"Expectation now is to get over the line....": England skipper Harry Kane on side's FIFA WC title ambitions
Florida, June 2
England football coach Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane have emphasised the team's collective goal to add a "second star on the shirt".
Thomas Tuchel-led England squad has touched down in Florida ahead of the World Cup. The one-time champion team is in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama and will take on Croatia in Arlington on June 17 to start their campaign.
The 26-man squad is in Florida for acclimatisation, and the travelling party did not have Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze, who were given some additional recovery time following the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest during the weekend. Also, Barcelona forward Marcus Rashford has already joined his compatriots in Miami and is also having his private hot-weather training regime.
The England skipper has been a firm supporter of Tuchel's ideology of prioritising squad chemistry over individual talent. The veteran striker is focused on winning the title after falling short in the two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate.
Kane said, as quoted by Goal.com, "In Gareth's early stage, we spent a lot of time talking about trying to make it more together and trying to put club football to one side when we come here with the national team. And I think year by year that it got stronger and stronger. But, of course, the expectation now is to get over the line and win."
Footage from England's official documentary named 'Building The Dream' revealed that Tuchel explicitly challenged his players during their first meeting at St George's Park to openly talk about their championship ambitions.
He had said, "The mission, why we are here, is very, very clear. We want to be world champions. We want to put the second star on our shirt. And for me, it is very important that we just speak about it. Just straight away speak about it. The mission, the target of this mission is clear: second star on our shirt."
Tuchel also stresses that sheer talent would not be sufficient to secure a win, adding that proper bonding and unity within the team could help them outdo the previous regime in terms of achievements.
Tuchel added, "It is not enough (talent) because it is not only about football. It is not only about offensive build-up and defensive patterns. It is not only about set-pieces; which is a big, big part. But in international football, and especially in international football, it is not only about football.
"I spoke to a World Cup winner, and he had been in two tournaments, and he said the difference between the quarter-final and the final... it was the same level, the same quality of play."
"But once they arrived as a brotherhood, we were ready to die for each other. It would have been no problem if the camp is two months. So two months, OK? No problem. Guys, let us do something special," he signed off.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm not a huge football fan, but seeing Tuchel talk about "dying for each other" gave me goosebumps. That's the kind of passion we need in Indian sports too. Our cricket team could learn a thing or two from this brotherhood philosophy. England might actually win this time if they stay grounded.
Good to see proper preparation. As someone who lived in England for 10 years, I've seen their FA bungle enough tournaments. Tuchel seems like the real deal. But let's be honest - Croatia always shows up in big games. That June 17 match will be a real test. Rooting for England though!
The "second star on the shirt" line is brilliant. That's the kind of clear goal-setting that separates champions from participants. I remember how India won the 2011 World Cup - it wasn't just talent, it was the belief. England 1966 was so long ago. Maybe this is their time? 🏆
I'm an American living in India, and it's interesting how passionate Indians are about football despite cricket being number one. England's squad looks stacked, but I worry about Kane's age. He's carrying so much pressure. That said, Tuchel's tactical mind plus this team's talent could be a deadly combination.
Honest perspective - England always hypes itself up before tournaments and then underperforms. I'll believe it when I see it. The "brotherhood" speech sounds nice, but we've
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