Thomas Tuchel has warned his England players that their World Cup campaign could be over in an instant due to FIFA's strict new rules. The German manager urged his squad to keep "calm" heads after Paraguay's Miguel Almirón became the first player sent off for covering his mouth during a confrontation.
Tuchel said: "It always can change in an instant. You're always just one red card away from a completely new situation. The best thing is to be calm and focused." He stressed the importance of being ready to face adversity, adding: "Things can get sticky, things can get tough."
The warning comes after England's opening match against Croatia in Dallas, where they twice surrendered leads in the first half. Assistant coach Anthony Barry's half-time television interview, in which he described England's performance as "complicated and confusing" with "fearful patterns," has drawn attention.
Tuchel defended Barry, saying: "We loved it. I'm so happy if he does that at half-time — and then I don't have to do it!" He praised Barry as a "top coach" and confirmed the assistant will continue conducting half-time interviews throughout the tournament.
