Tuchel unfazed by history ahead of England v Argentina World Cup semi-final

Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, dismissed concerns about historical pressure ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. He stated that while the team feels the tension and nervousness inherent in such a high-stakes match, it does not constitute a burden. Instead, Tuchel emphasized the players' competitive drive, hunger, and excitement for the game.

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I don’t feel a burden. We feel the tension and will be nervous but that is normal.

"The two shirts are just iconic. There are historic matches, iconic moments and everyone recognises the shirts and players straight away," Tuchel remarked, acknowledging the fixture's significance. He noted that while players are aware of the rivalry's importance, coaches must maintain focus on what they can influence. He plans to avoid using the historical rivalry as excessive motivation, preferring to concentrate on the team's objectives.

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What I like is that I feel the players are really competitive, hungry and excited to play this match.

Tuchel confirmed that all players trained the day before the match, with Declan Rice available after recovering from illness, though Jarell Quansah is suspended. He praised Lionel Messi, describing him as "magical" and noting Argentina's cohesion and tournament experience under a skilled coach. Despite acknowledging Argentina as a formidable opponent, Tuchel expressed readiness and confidence in his team's ability to perform.

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The two shirts are just iconic. There are historic matches, iconic moments and everyone recognises the shirts and players straight away.

Looking ahead, Tuchel suggested that England has not yet reached its peak performance in the tournament. He anticipates that the semi-final match will bring out the best in his squad, expressing excitement for the challenge. He also noted that navigating through knockout rounds of a World Cup is rarely smooth, reflecting on his own team's path to the semi-finals.

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I think the players of both countries are very aware of what it means to them -– if a fixture provides so many iconic moments, then you cannot say it is just another football match, but as a coach we do exactly that, focus on what we can influence.