England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama at next year’s World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, after the group stage draw was held in Washington with manager Thomas Tuchel in attendance.
Manager Thomas Tuchel insists the whole country should be excited after England’s World Cup draw.
Tuchel is paired with Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group and could face a tough road to top honors, with co-hosts Mexico and Mexico City in the last 16 and potentially Brazil in the quarter-finals.
But bullish Tuchel said England should not be afraid of anyone and must focus on winning Group L against Croatia on June 17, even if they face a team from “another galaxy”.
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England manager Tuchel said: “The most important thing is that we arrive hungry. We arrive hungry and excited and we arrive as a team. We’re not worried. We’re not worried about our opponents.”
“So, it doesn’t make any sense. We don’t get carried away, we don’t give directions or anything. We just make sure we play well and do well within the group.”
Tuchel revealed he had already received a text message from Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who was his former Chelsea manager. “They’re proud and they’re full of talent. I’m sure I’ve already got a message from Mateo Kovacic on my phone. We know them and they know us. This is an important opening match and it could easily be the quarter-finals or even the second half of the tournament, but that’s the reality,” Tuchel said.
“I’ve always said I don’t want things and I don’t want to avoid them at all costs. So now we need to know that and be prepared.” It was also important for England’s course in the second half of the tournament, and the possibility of a draw with Mexico.
Tuchel added: “Someone said, ‘Whoever wins a medal in New Jersey will absolutely deserve a medal in the toughest competition.'”
“It sounds like a pretty tough tournament, but I’m really looking forward to playing in Mexico City. I remember watching the World Cup in Mexico City, and I used to watch it as a teenager, and it was like watching something from Mars or another galaxy.”
“But to be there and play the final against Mexico? Anything can happen. You can’t get carried away talking about Mexico or Brazil right now. You don’t know if you’ll see them or not.”
“If we don’t perform as a group, we won’t be able to see them for sure, so we’ll have to make sure we’re there and see who else is going to be there. We can’t influence everyone.”
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England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17 in either Toronto or Dallas. Dallas Stadium is the home of the Dallas Cowboys and has a roof.
The second game will be against Ghana in either Toronto or Boston on June 23, and against Panama on June 27 in Philadelphia or New Jersey.
Scorching temperatures are expected on the East Coast, and even if they win in the group stage, it could get even hotter in the finals.
England will announce the venue and kick-off time on Saturday, as FIFA holds a separate event to confirm the full World Cup schedule.
