England Prepares for World Cup Opener Against Croatia

The heat in Florida has been brutal, the football so far anything but. That is about to change, if Thomas Tuchel gets his way.

A week out from England’s World Cup curtain raiser against Croatia, the head coach believes his squad are ready to shift from conditioning to sharpness as they face Costa Rica in their final public warm-up game.

From slog to edge

Since landing in hot, humid Florida last Monday, England have lived in the thick air of West Palm Beach, shuttling between intense training sessions and a laboured 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa. Tuchel split his squad across the two halves in that game, prioritising minutes over fluency in what quickly faded from memory once the final whistle went.

Now comes Costa Rica in Orlando. No World Cup ticket for the Central Americans, but an important rung on England’s ladder towards next Wednesday’s Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.

Tuchel’s message is clear: the phase of easing players in is over.

“No-one needs a break, everyone is available. That’s the very good news,” he said, outlining a plan to stretch his squad further than in Tampa. “No-one was injured, no complaints, after the first match. One day for recovery, two good training sessions and ready to give it a push tomorrow. Push means more than 45 minutes – players will play 60, maybe some 70.”

The workload is climbing. So are the expectations.

Managing Saka, managing the load

One key detail in Tuchel’s update was Bukayo Saka. The England boss confirmed the winger’s fitness is being managed after an Achilles issue, a reminder that the fine line between peak condition and risk sits at the heart of every decision this week.

Tuchel has built his camp around control. Control of minutes, control of intensity, control of who hits Kansas City – England’s World Cup base – on the same physical level.

He revealed that Thursday will bring another step: a behind-closed-doors game against Miami FC, designed less as a test and more as a tailored training tool.

“Basically, if you played only 20 minutes (against Costa Rica) I have the chance to give you another 50 or 60 on the next day,” Tuchel explained. “We are in charge, I think, of the substitutions. We are in charge of the length of the matches, and we can totally dictate as to who is available to give everyone at the end of the pre-camp the same load.

“Then we can start in Kansas on the same level for everyone.”

Set pieces, a traditional weapon for England at major tournaments, will also get discreet attention in that Miami run-out. Tuchel hinted they may “try some stuff” away from the cameras, careful not to telegraph routines during the two televised friendlies.

One last push in the heat

If Tampa was sweltering, Orlando offers no relief. England will step out against Costa Rica in oppressive conditions once again, then immediately pivot back to their West Palm Beach base before flying to Kansas City on Saturday.

The schedule is relentless but deliberate: test the players’ lungs and legs now, so Dallas, Houston and the rest feel like familiar territory rather than shock therapy.

Tuchel wants more than just kilometres in the legs this time. The demand is for a visible lift in “style of play, ball speed and everything” – a team that moves the ball quicker, presses with more bite, and starts to resemble a side ready for the real thing.

“We want to take the next step, and we feel ready for it,” he said.

Waiting their turn

The World Cup will kick off on Thursday with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa, yet England must wait until next Wednesday for their own entry into the tournament. That gap can drain energy or sharpen focus. Tuchel is intent on the latter.

Croatia in Dallas on June 17 is the first hurdle, followed by Group L clashes with Ghana and Panama. It is a path that demands England arrive not just fit, but fully tuned.

Florida has been about sweat, structure and careful planning. Costa Rica, and then Miami FC behind closed doors, will show whether all that work is beginning to harden into something more dangerous.

The pre-camp ends in a couple of days. The “adventure”, as Tuchel calls it, starts in Kansas. The question now is simple: when the heat gives way to the pressure of a World Cup opener, will this controlled build-up produce a team that explodes into life?