Thomas Tuchel expressed confidence that the pressure of the World Cup will elevate England's performance as they prepare to face Croatia in their opening match on Wednesday. Despite a solid qualifying campaign, England has struggled against top-tier teams, having drawn with Uruguay and suffered losses to Japan and Senegal under Tuchel's leadership.

Tuchel emphasized that the competitive nature of the World Cup will lead to a different mindset. "Because it’s not a friendly match, we will not try stuff," he stated, insisting that the occasion will bring out their best. He aims for England to play with the intensity typical of a Premier League side, leveraging the experience of players competing at the highest levels in Europe.

To prepare for the heat, England conducted a pre-tournament training camp in Florida, followed by intensive preparations in Kansas City. Tuchel is expected to start Jude Bellingham in the No. 10 role, and he noted that the players understand the significance of the upcoming match without needing extra motivation.

As England faces an aging Croatian squad, they must remain cautious of threats like Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic, who could pose challenges in midfield and on set pieces. Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, highlighting Croatia's experienced players and their tactical evolution.

In terms of squad selection, Tuchel faces a few decisions, particularly concerning the fitness of Bukayo Saka. With Tino Livramento out due to injury, Trevoh Chalobah has been called up as a replacement. England will also play a behind-closed-doors match against a local MLS team to keep players sharp ahead of their second group game against Ghana on Tuesday.