England face Mexican storm as Tuchel struggles to stay calm amid turmoil | In England

IIn some ways it was in line with the bedlam that has engulfed Mexico since Tuesday night when their team beat Ecuador to set up a World Cup Last-16 match against England on Sunday. There was talk of an incoming hurricane, which is predicted to bring the risk of flooding and affect what has been described as the biggest game in Mexican history. There was a symbolic one, too.

Kick-off will have to be moved forward from 6pm local time (1am Monday BST) to noon, Fifa was told on Friday, and there followed a huge amount of back-and-forth, with many different people and companies to consider. Finally, it was decided that it would have to sit at 6pm. A lot of energy was used without real change and everyone got hurt.

The memory of the party in Mexico City after the Ecuador game is still fresh, how the streets were jammed for almost a kilometer in the area around El Ángel de la Independencia, with no cars able to pass. It is said that there were a million followers. It was loud and emotional; the feeling of the city in the fever zone, which is about to play again.

Chaos is a theme and it applies to England too, as there was too much of it in their last 32 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel felt it at the beginning and in everything that must now be called the first quarter. Remember the manager’s words earlier? “It can be a game of patience and we must not panic,” he said.

England was shocked. It was a painful moment, characterized by the rush of blood, England’s players tried hard, defeated by their desire. DRC were leading 1-0 at half-time and England substitute Reece James was injured and relieved by his teammate Jude Bellingham.

England ran on adrenaline, created many chances after that, and finally got there, Harry Kane scored two goals to win 2-1. However, the anxiety continued. In the heart of the Azteca Stadium, the scene of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God in 1986, England may not live to fight another day if they start so mysteriously. However, if they have such a spell at any time.

Mexico will be like a storm in the first 20 minutes, because they know that this is when the opposition players who are not used to the pitch 2,240 meters above sea level really feel it. “The first 20 minutes … some players will need air, air,” Mexico striker Raúl Jiménez said recently. “That’s where we can make a difference.”

Tuchel knows the storm is coming, and for him it’s about calmness and unity, ensuring energy is channeled rather than wasted. “We know very well that it took us the whole quarter [against the DRC] practice in our newspapers.” “We are fully committed to the effort we are making, but it is not economical. We don’t choose good times. And we go early in the morning, when we are not set.

“We are impatient, and there are bad consequences: the first is too fast, the second comes in, no one says: ‘No, no, we are not going.’ The third one just goes to try to fix it and this leaves us separated, with very big distances. So we know, and work on it, that we need to choose our times better; where do you press, when do you press. After that we need to be more synchronized, we need to be united. “

Jitters were evident in attack, including the last action in front of goal. Until the end of the last 32, no team has missed more of what Opta describes as bigger chances than England. The number was 15, and six came with the DRC. Next on the list was France with 12.

“We are very quick in our attack,” said Tuchel. “It’s almost like every attack plays like a quick attack. We need to understand that sometimes the door is closed, it doesn’t help if you rush to enter it. Try another door. Find another way. And pray to handle the ball. And recharge. Otherwise we just drain our batteries with a lot of effort and not that much reward. Talking about the first 15-20 minutes, we told you that other teams came out late, that’s what we expect later. without getting used to it, that the first minutes 15-20 is when you hit the wall, it gets better and that’s why Mexico starts like this.

When Tuchel took over the England job, he made it clear that he wanted to play like a Premier League team – with fury and courage, hyperbole and strong combinations. He criticized Sir Gareth Southgate’s squad for not knowing themselves at Euro 2024, saying they have no freedom and are “more afraid of giving up than excited and hungry to win”.

In key periods of the World Cup, it was difficult to see who Tuchel’s England was. You are very confused. You are so crazy. The picture needs to be cleared.

“It is because we are in a hurry in everything we do,” he said. “We are a little impatient, I still think we create more chances when we play against teams that don’t let up. I know what you mean [about the lack of identity]. I think physicality is a sign of the Premier League and we will try to stay brave, play forward and put players in the last lines, play with the wings. “

England dropped their seventh flight in 12 days on Friday and are about to play their fourth game in 13 days. The season would be like that; another to plan the lesson. Tuchel’s message is that he is not willing to give up his vision. Or just rely on Kane.

“We didn’t give up at all,” he said. “We are working on it. We clearly looked at who we are in our last warm-up game against Costa Rica, but we lost a little light and rhythm. Maybe because of the intensity of the opponent and the opponent. But we got it a little bit.

“We don’t rely too much. What does this mean? That Argentina relies too much on it [Lionel] Messi? It just is. Everyone does their job to find these holes for Harry and then Harry does what he does. Everyone is willing and involved when we score goals. So it seems like it’s a one man show but it’s not a one man show for anyone. We will be better when the level of the field is over, when we are not the favorites and the teams will come and beat us. This is where we will see who we are and the highest level.”