England Preview: Thomas Tuchel’s tall boys | 2026 FIFA World Cup

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4:34Jim Campbell: hello everybody welcome to the football ramble it's time for england yes england versus croatia tonight oh my goodness the wait is nearly over welcome welcome welcome everybody it's a pleasure to have you here England versus Croatia in the World Cup 9pm Greenwich meantime this is the Football Rumble preview of that match Jim Campbell it's nearly here we've waited a while here we go I'm so excited Group L finally is here L for late yeah I'm privileged to be with Marcus Bella on the the morning of a World Cup day in which England play for the first time it's exciting I'm excited I'm sort of talking myself up into a bit of a frenzy now I've been you know doing some reading around it doing a deep dive in my own brain about England's chances and I've I've worked myself into a frenzy I'm looking at this team and I'm looking at this manager and I'm looking at all the sort of unknown quantities we have in front of us and I'm just really really looking forward to it getting going you look suitably frenzied I have to say look it's it's a big game England versus Croatia Croatia obviously let's get this out of the way they've beaten England at a World Cup in recent memory well done good no I want that got it out of the way no we want to scalp them straight away this is a revenge mission I'm bored of Croatia I'm fed up with playing Croatia at tournaments or qualifiers yeah are they the new Poland let's crush them they are the new Poland yeah we used to get Poland all the time but it's Croatia and it's tonight and Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic he's there he's always there he'll be there long after Thomas Tuchel has departed England but he said last week the first game can destroy everything.

6:22Jim Campbell: It sounds both a threat and kind of an expression of insecurity doesn't it that? I don't think it's true of this World Cup either. Maybe not, maybe not but you get what he means and this is a man who lest we forget knows his way around the World Cups Jim and you we go back to 2018 when Croatia got to the final they got the semis last time round as well. Yeah, it is astonishing. Yeah, so And it's very easy to write them off, isn't it? For crying out loud, do not underestimate Croatia, everybody. This is why we need to grind them into red and white checkered dust. Yes, we do. And Luka Modric will be involved tonight.

6:59Jim Campbell: Of course he will. If you remember the last Euros when he scored against Italy and then Italy scored late on and knocked Croatia out, everyone was a bit like, ah, so that's probably your last tournament, isn't it? And he's like, no. There's a few players you can say this about, but at what point does it get weird? he's like 48 and still just doing this at World Cups when do we go something's not right here what is their diet yeah what is the secret yes is this some sort of sorcery are they vampires we don't have time to answer that now but we are going to talk about England and this is what everybody thinks the expected line-up will be and it's basically how they lined up against Costa Rica in that pre-tournament friendly Pickford in goal of course from right back to left Rhys James Esri Konza John Stones Nico O 'Reilly midfield Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice behind Jude Bellingham and on the wings Nani Maduweke Anthony Gordon obviously Harry Kane up front there may well be you know maybe Bukai Saka does start instead of Nani Maduweke there may be the odd little one here and there but that's the core of the team exactly you would think eight or nine of those players are definitely going to start tonight with Thomas Tuchel in the dugout Jim how does that potential line up with old Tommy Tewks in there calling the shots, how does it make you feel right now?

8:17Jim Campbell: Well the whole thing I am very excited by I have to say and there's two reasons for that because I think when you look at some of the players here and where they are in their careers they are certainly, a lot of these players are in their sort of peak eras I think it's one of the best squads England have taken to a World Cup in a long long time. I don't think I don't think Gareth Southgate had a squad as good as this at any point in his tenure. Again, given the ages of some of these key players and even the younger players like Nico O 'Reilly been a great example. He's got a real sort of potential kind of wild card energy to him where we know he's a really really good player.

8:57Jim Campbell: And also there is the Tuchel factor himself. Now he's a better manager than Gareth Southgate. We know that. He's more front footed. He does the things we want to see England do. We've seen a couple of examples. I think the Costa Rica game and the Serbia game that we talk about all the time are great examples of that. We can park the Serbia one. There are obviously going to be times where England look defensive because that is the smart thing to do in a game. You can't go gung-ho for 90 minutes in any game at any level. There probably will be points where it's still a little bit dull, but that's fine, isn't it?

9:28Jim Campbell: And I'm just really excited to see how much this team can express Tuchel's wishes because if they can execute the game plan that he has to the best of their ability, England will be a force in this tournament. And I'm very excited about how this might play out. If England win comfortably today, I am going to be just backflipping for weeks. Yes. Yeah, I mean, I would like to see you just do one backflip, to be honest with you. Same. So over to you, England. Under the supervision of a lot of safety professionals. Crash mats galore. Yeah, indeed. well so big talk from Jim there big talk from Jim it's going to be a big talk from me I know what you mean I'm quite confident with England here I think the Costa Rica game showed us a little bit in how England want to play but I said this when the squad came out and people were very disappointed with the likes of Foden and Palmer Gibbs White in particular not being there and a number of other players and what it smacked to me was Tuchel has a plan and he has a way of playing and it's kind of like, no, you're not in my system.

10:39Jim Campbell: And the plan is get the very, very best out of Harry Kane. And the best out of Harry Kane is you let him roam around the pitch. You let him at times pick up the ball in his own box and start a move because he'll probably get on the end of it. Like it's ridiculous what Harry Kane's been doing at Bayern. We saw a little bit of that at Costa Rica. If you remember last time in the Euros in 2024, there was all this chat as there often has been with Kane, no, stay in the box, be that sort of fox in the box type player. And Kane was wanting to drop deep and Foden was on the wrong flank, but he was wanting to take up some of the space and obviously Bellingham.

11:15Jim Campbell: And it was a bit congested. It was disjointed completely. So it's all about getting the best out of Kane. Can you also get the best out of Rice and Bellingham? Because that job that Bellingham needs to do, which will be at times to support Kane and run ahead of him, he can do that. You think of early Real Madrid dude Bellingham. He was almost like a de facto, let's call it a false nine if anybody uses that terminology, Jim. I believe it's been mentioned once or twice in the past. But no, all jokes aside, Bellingham was playing that kind of role. The wingers have been picked for pace and power and also that ability to kind of run beyond Kane and whoever else.

11:50Jim Campbell: That is why Foden, he tried him in that sort of false nine position, but that's why Foden and Palmer and also Gibbs White are not there. He wants a bit more industry as well with his number 10. That's what Rodgers and Bellingham will give you. The plan is there. Also, Rodgers drifts left a lot. Yes. And the only other player that will come in and play in that sort of number 10-ish role in Eber Etchiezer does the same. Yeah. So I think you're absolutely right. It is about keeping that space clear for Kane. Also, the base of the midfield is set up to essentially clear out that area, isn't it? You've got the security of both Rice and Anderson in there.

12:28Jim Campbell: Now, Rice will kind of rat around, as he puts it, a lot more than Anderson does. I think Anderson will be a bit more fixed in terms of the area, the pitch that he patrols. But essentially, yeah, I mean, Rice is almost like a bouncer for Bellingham there. And that also is freeing up that space for Kane to drop in there. And as you say, all of the wingers are picked on their ability to be proper traditional wingers, touchline, get ahead, kind of cut in if need be. But it's all about getting beyond Kane and getting that cut back to him. And you're right. there's a clear plan here the plan is the squad has been tailored to what he thinks England's strengths are another thing that I think is very interesting and I think this possibly explains why John Stones is expected to start over Mark Gay is the height of some of these players they are big lads set pieces are going to be a factor because they always are if you're doing your job properly you're going to win them so you might as well maximise them despite that ruining football, obviously, et cetera, et cetera.

13:34Jim Campbell: Yeah, exactly. Yeah, sure. And yeah, I think that's very interesting. And Stones, you're a huge fan of John Stones in England, aren't you? And he's obviously been brilliant for a long time. He hasn't played a lot this season, but I wonder if that actually might just mean he's quite fresh. Well, yeah, I do hope so. I do hope so. I mean, he was pretty giddy. Not as giddy as you or I are today. Or maybe he is, actually. I mean, he is playing ultimately. Or one of your aunts. True enough. He did say that when he got called up, he felt like a little kid again or something. He absolutely loved it. I think Stones will be there.

14:11Jim Campbell: His prowess from corners, we know. But you're right. If you look at the England team, height is one of the things. I mean, Croatia are big boys as well. But set pieces will be a big thing. And Thomas Tuchel said he wants England to play like a Premier League side. And I thought, okay, in the heat of North America, here I go again, everybody. but is that the best idea? Well, as we've seen so far at this World Cup, teams, and it's only the first game I understand, teams have still managed to kind of play the styles that perhaps you'd expect. Tonight, the game is in an air-conditioned stadium, so that won't be an issue.

14:44Jim Campbell: But anyway, we'll talk about the heat and all that nonsense later on, hopefully, as England progress, hopefully. But playing as a Premier League side, he's just basically saying, lads, let's play to your strength. Now, I know Bellingham doesn't play in the Premier League, but you get the point of what he's saying. There's no point in trying to make this team something that it isn't. How do you get the best out of them? And one thing that I think we can hope is a lot of interchanging. He talks about specialists in certain areas, but he's picked quite a dynamic and fluid side. We know James likes to step into midfield.

15:15Jim Campbell: O 'Reilly, Swiss Army Knife, can do it all. I think what England will try and do is overwhelm teams in attack. Now, that could potentially leave them vulnerable to the counterattack. Well, hopefully Elliot Anderson is going to be like a Duracell bunny times 10 Anderson and Rice cover so much ground that that would be in the thinking when England go forward you could see depending on which flank they go down O 'Reilly's right up there with Gordon, Belling and Maddowaker Kane and even Rice joining in with the attack James as well James is so versatile and also James in particular is a massive massive asset if you want him as an overlapping fullback we talked earlier about getting those players beyond Kane he's a massive weapon in that sense as well he'll be on free kicks you'd imagine he might well be yeah Harry Kane will be on pens I would expect so.

15:58Jim Campbell: Yeah, I would demand that Harry Kane is on pens as much as that's possible. Although, you know, Ivan Tone would be like, just bring me on for this one. There we are. Well, look, do let us know what you think of the starting 11. I know there's a lot of comments and questions coming in. What do you think of that potential starting 11? Who would you really like to see in this side? And remember, the squad is picked. We can't start talking about people who aren't there. That conversation's over. What have we got here? Lewis Robson says Tuchel also likes his centre-backs to start the build-up he's gone with his best two footballing centre-backs it's not a bad point old Lewis makes there it is I don't think Gay's particularly sort of deficient in that area but I think Stones is probably in front of him in terms of line-breaking passes and that type of shenanigans and Konza as well that type of caper yeah I think Konza's brilliant I think Konza's really really underrated actually even in the context of him being very highly rated Yeah, there's often chat about England being light at centre-half, and there has been in previous tournaments.

17:00Jim Campbell: Nonsense. But I think we're all right there. Yeah. And Konza as well, and Gahey, whoever it is that starts, we think it's going to be Konza and Stones. They're all experienced now. Gahey was the starting centre-half for Euro 2024. And although England weren't great, you know, defensively, they were pretty good. And obviously Konza didn't start too much, but he came on and he played a bit of a part there. So, yeah, interesting. I think Gahey's had a couple of moments in an England shirt, hasn't he, where he's perhaps made a little bit of a mistake in games that ultimately haven't mattered. But Tuchel does look at England form more than he does club form, doesn't he?

17:32Jim Campbell: I mean, Noni Malueke, I think, is a good example of that, where he's delivered for England, and therefore he's there, and he will possibly start tonight, depending on the fitness of Saka, I would imagine. I wonder if that's gone against Gehi slightly. Or maybe, again, it's just a hype thing. We don't know. The fact is we've got three really, really good centre-backs for two positions. Yeah, we do. staying with the defence Pelling has asked what was the impact on Tino Liveramento being ruled out of the tournament yeah obviously that was the big news coming out of the England camp that Liveramento has had to drop out and she was gutting for him he has been struggling with one but yeah a great shame for young Tino but he'll be back at another tournament you can certainly hope so I mean and he's been replaced by Trevor Chalabar yeah he has which is an interesting one isn't it because Trevor Chalabar is not a fullback so it's interesting that Well, I think the way that they like to build up, we're expecting this sort of Tuchel in the build-up.

18:28Jim Campbell: I know there's all these phases of play and so on, but England to kind of adopt a sort of de facto sort of back three. Yeah. I mean, it could be Anderson dropping in there. But if it is a case of actually he wants one of his full-backs to stay, you know, Chalabar can do that. I think Chalabar will be low down the pecking order, hence he wasn't in the original squad. But he's a player that Tuchel knows, and he's also tall. Yeah. He knows him, he's tall, and with Thomas Tuchel, that's two of the big three things that he clearly wants in his England players. And I think, despite the fact that he had a lot of, perhaps not criticism, but there was a little bit of surprise at his inclusion, Jed Spence has been excellent whenever he's appeared in the warm-up games.

19:09Jim Campbell: So I think it's probably a sign as well that he trusts Spence on either flank, actually. The only thing I would say, yeah, with Tuchel is this plan we're talking about and what he wants out of his full-backs. I think Spence can provide that. Better at right back, but, you know, obviously knows how to play the other side as well and is pretty comfortable with that. It's just a case that England really now have three fullbacks in the whole squad. I know Dan Byrne can go there. I know Esri Konza can go there. But from what he's going to demand from his fullbacks, they are not the specialists that he talks about.

19:42Jim Campbell: Now, perhaps he thought, he clearly doesn't want Alexander-Arnold in the squad. People can talk about that. But as I say, look, the squad is the squad and that's that. you know we can no point in going over old ground on the day england are going to kick off their world cup campaign but the only thing i would say is that um that again he clearly thinks that the fullbacks that were available to him lewis hall being another one people surprised that he's not there he thinks he's not going to do the job i want him to do because he's a different type of player therefore i'm better off picking a guy who does tick a few other boxes so that's what he's on for.

20:15Jim Campbell: And Trevor Chalabar is in. Trevor Chalabar did tweet on the day of the 2018 World Cup final or something. He tweeted a picture of the World Cup and he went, hashtag believe or one day or something like that. Good for you, Trev. Yeah, absolutely. Karma ball, Trev. He'll be joining the England players after the Croatia game because the base is, of course, is in Kansas and they're off to, it's not Dallas exactly, is it? Arlington. Texas. Let's call it Texas, Jim. Texas is bigger than the whole world. So it's going to be a complicated travel situation. We'll figure it out. Exactly, yeah.

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24:11Jim Campbell: Right, some more of our listeners' comments and questions. Promotion Given has said nobody will be saying Croatia's tournament has been destroyed no matter what the result is. Same is not necessarily true for England. I disagree with you promotion given I can't roll my R's in the same way very good if England lose today obviously there'll be a lot of noise about that but there'll still be heavy favourites against Ghana and against Panama and I think there'll probably be some sort of knee jerk and angry tub thumping but I don't think the tournament's going to be destroyed after a single bad result if England lose tonight there will be a lot of references of Argentina 2022.

24:56Jim Campbell: Exactly. And Spain 2010. And in fact, Jim, that might be a good omen. If England lose tonight, we're going to go win the World Cup. Careful, careful what you do. Adonis Sport says, simply England stinker incoming. Yes. We'll see you there. Yes. We'll see you at the watch along. I assume that's what you're talking about. Do have a shower. Yeah, definitely. I mean, this is, again on paper, England's toughest game in the group. Obviously, Ghana and Panama. Panama will be considered group minnows. And Ghana, despite boasting some good players, Anton Semenya being the obvious one, didn't qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, I don't think if my memory serves me correctly there.

25:35Jim Campbell: They're quite low in the rankings as well, aren't they? Yeah, I appreciate they have qualified for the World Cup. So that's what I mean. They're not a bad side at all. But England would be heavy favourites for this. This is the game, I think, that England will be thinking, okay, we're playing one of the most canniest football nations in the history of world football. And as we mentioned, the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Josef Kvardyol, these are big players. Yes, some of them are lacking match fitness, you might argue. But you can also kind of spin that as them being potentially fresh.

26:12Jim Campbell: Yeah, they are not a side who turn up and worry about, oh, has he got enough minutes? they know what they're doing and under the current coach who has been so successful with them at tournaments they are I mean Ivan Perisic is probably going to play and I mean how old is he but he's still got the engine he's still got everything about him that made him such a weapon for Croatia in previous World Cups you know this is like lads you just have to be so aware of the opposition oh completely and they will be you know I don't think there's a chance of of the squad or of Tuka or the coaching staff underestimating the challenge that Croatia face here?

26:51Jim Campbell: Absolutely not. No. Just as I'm reminding myself of Croatia, I'm like, oh, it's really good every single time, actually, thinking about it. I mean, that last World Cup was outrageous where they knocked out Brazil, which denied a sort of Brazil-Argentina so we find it a bit of a shame. At the end, I think they beat, what did they beat? Morocco? Did they finish third in the World Cup last time? They definitely were in the third place playoff. I would defer to your exceptional memory when it comes to international football I'm pretty sure they got a medal again as they do like to do at a World Cup Do you think they'll wear them tonight?

27:26Jim Campbell: As a little reminder of what we're up against We've won the silver We've won the bronze in previous World Cups We're going for gold this time So yes Now how about this Neil Jeffries says I think the squad rather than the XI makes the difference tonight I expect it'll be tight and then Rashford Rodgers and Madueke come on against Tardalek. So old Jeffrey's thinking that maybe Saka will start, but either or, he's got a point. I mean, we saw with France last night, they have possibly the best squad on paper in the tournament, you would say. When they start bringing players off the bench, you're like, bloomin' heck.

27:59Jim Campbell: They've got some talent there. But I mean, England, so do we, Jim. Yeah, absolutely. And it is in the five subs era, the bench is massive, isn't it? It's a huge, huge part of the game now. Every team's going to use it to the best of their ability. I think those predictions of subs are pretty spot on, you would think. If Rashford and Madiweke don't start, I'm sure they will come on. Rodgers is an interesting prospect as well against potentially tired legs. Although, you know, do Croatia's legs tire? There is something odd about Croatia where that doesn't seem to happen. That is a point, isn't it?

28:34Jim Campbell: I think that's the trouble with Croatia. They just don't seem to tire. But yeah, I mean... No, it's not going to be! it's not going to be I mean a draw is an okay result isn't it I mean look a draw is not a disaster at all and again look back at sides who have done things in World Cups the idea that you win every game and you win every game well it's just not a thing it's incredibly rare to the point of has it ever actually happened I mean you remember when Italy won it in 2006 and I appreciate I am referencing winners of World Cups people might think well hang on a minute but I'm just saying you know the reason why I'm referencing winners is it just It's the extreme example of a side that went on.

29:16Jim Campbell: Brazil in 1970, they won every game, didn't they? You tested me there quite possibly, yeah. I think maybe Jairzinho scored in every game. Jairzinho scored in every round he scored. I'm pretty sure they did win every game, but a more contemporary example, if I may, would be Italy in 2006, who in, I think it was their second game, drew one all with the US, and I think the US may have even had a man or two sent off. Perhaps Italy did as well. But either or, it was seen as a bit of a disappointing result. Do not rule them out this time. Do not rule anybody out this time. Look, I think avoid defeat, absolutely.

29:51Jim Campbell: But this England team are not going to be playing like that. You mentioned earlier that Thomas Tuchel is a very, very good manager. He is. That's why the FA have basically parachuted him in to try and say, right, come on, we don't think any of our own guys are good enough. You're the man for the job. And he was clearly up for it. Tuchel likes to play in a certain way. And he said he wants to play like a Premier League side. and that is on the front foot. And you saw it again against Costa Rica. You would imagine, you know, England have had a lot of possession of the ball under Tuchel. Yes, they've not been playing great opposition.

30:21Jim Campbell: That's obvious. In fact, really, tonight you could probably argue is the biggest test of this England side under Thomas Tuchel. They've played Serbia in the qualifying. That was the big team there. If you look at some of the friendlies, they played Senegal and were beaten at the city ground. That seems a long time ago now. But, you know, it still happened. but in the recent friendlies against Japan and Uruguay, I mean, that was almost like an England B team, really. So the point is this group of players in this guise, they really haven't had much of a test. This is the proper... Exactly. They're going to have to really hit the ground running.

30:55Jim Campbell: So I think we're going to see England, I think go on the front foot pretty early on in this game would be my prediction and kind of my hope. I think, yeah, I mean, it's my hope, but that rarely happens I think certainly in the opening games and certainly with an opposition of this calibre because it's not always as simple as taking it to them and putting the pressure on them because they themselves Croatia in particular are very good at playing their way out of that type of pressure let me clarify I don't think they're going to fly out the traps I don't think you're going to see that from anybody because that is just pretty unwise when you think of the length of the tournament yeah I think there will be what I'm hoping for is certainly just those little pockets, those little 10-minute periods that hopefully come some way away from the ad break so the momentum isn't completely destroyed where we see what England will be like under pressure from a good opponent in the knockout rounds.

31:52Jim Campbell: There's an element of managing these games, particularly with Croatia up first. I think this is one that they might try and figure them out for a bit, which I think will lead to probably a cagey opening. so I want to look at this team and this squad and Thomas Tuchel as I was referencing at the top of the show and get excited about it and I am excited about it but I can't expect that we're going to go out there and blitz Croatia 3-0 I look at this team and I think they've got that in them but I have to temper my own expectations I do think England will win this game but I think it will be a kind of professional job I'd be delighted with a professional job I think yeah and you have to do no one blitzes Croatia you can't do it it's impossible we mentioned the height of England's squad Cy911 says England's tallest ever squad it seems like we've confused entry to America with Alton Towers does it bode well does it not

32:57Jim Campbell: defenestration I was struggling with your name do you know what that word means go on It's to throw someone out of a window. Oh, right. It's a very specific word. Well, old Def is very welcome, often gets involved in these live streams. Modric is 45 days older than Wayne Rooney. Can you imagine Wayne Rooney right now? Chugging around the picture. Blowing out of his arse. Incredible. That shows you Modric. He's an absolute machine. He'd be moving like in that picture of him and his mum and dad coming out of the sea that time. Bloody hell. Yeah, even in the air-conditioned stadium. Even in it, even in it, yeah, which England are playing in tonight.

33:39Jim Campbell: A couple more, at Sven P6626. I'm going to do the whole thing for you, Sven. Not that I'm superstitious or anything, but that red-checkered scarf behind Jim doesn't bode well. Get rid of it, Jim. Get rid of it now. There you go. There you go. There we are, you see.

33:56Jim Campbell: And Namanenka, NamanAUK. Where are the England shirts? Well, we don't have England shirts, but I went up a lamppost earlier and I got me one of these. Come on! Come on! There we go. Up a lamppost. Where am I? Where am I? I'll tell you what. You're in the kingdom. I'm in England town, baby. Yes, you are. That's it, everybody. Thank you very much for joining us for this live stream. It's been an absolute pleasure. If you come into 40 Foot Brewery later for our watch along, we'll see you there. If you didn't manage to get a ticket, then fear not. There's still tickets available for our England-Ghana watch-along at 40 Foot Brewery in North London.

34:35Jim Campbell: That is on Tuesday next week. And England-Panama, there are still tickets for that one on Saturday next week. A lot of you have been asking about Pete's lost property update. Well, today's ramble, the podcast we did before this one, all is revealed on there. So get yourselves to the ramble there. Right, Jim, we're off. We are. We're off to listen to Three Lines and World in Motion and all that good stuff on repeat until we go to 40 Foot Brewery where we're going to have a party. Let's hope we're partying deep into the night. Amen. Amen indeed. Right, come on England, we're up. It's time. Let's do this.

35:23The Football Ramble is a Stack Production. and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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37:19The World Cup is underway and on Stacks Legacy Podcast, we're going all in. you can learn about the tragedy that shook the last World Cup in the US, how Cape Verde used LinkedIn to recruit one of their key players, or the OnlyFans models using the tournament as the ultimate marketing ploy. Here at Legacy, we create documentary series about human stories rooted in sport and drop brand new mini episodes called Legacy Spotlight every two weeks. Sports stories that matter, told in under 15 minutes. Search Legacy Sports Stories and hit subscribe right now to make sure you never miss an episode.