England captain Harry Kane revealed that a powerful half-time team talk from coach Thomas Tuchel inspired England to a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Kane scored twice in the first half, but Croatia fought back to level the score at 2-2 before the break. England responded strongly after halftime, with Jude Bellingham restoring the lead before substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the win.
According to Kane, Tuchel challenged his players to play with more freedom after a nervous first-half display.
“He told us to let the shackles off and show the world who we can be,” Kane said.
Tuchel admitted England lacked confidence and played too cautiously before the break but praised the team’s response in the second half.
The victory gives England a winning start to their World Cup campaign, although Tuchel acknowledged there is still room for improvement defensively.
