Ex-Croatia boss suggests where Thomas Tuchel could have gone wrong for England

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Slaven Bilic has worries that England ’s style of play under Thomas Tuchel could end up costing them at the World Cup . The Three Lions kick off their 2026 campaign on Wednesday evening as they take on Croatia in Dallas.

The tournament represents England’s first under Tuchel, the German having been handed the task of ending the nation’s long wait for silverware after reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals under Gareth Southgate , as well as back-to-back Euros finals.

Ex-Croatia boss Bilic has now offered his take on the upcoming game between his nation and England and has warned that Tuchel’s style could potentially be their downfall.

Speaking to MailOnline , the former West Ham coach said: “I am impressed by Thomas Tuchel. He is a great manager but this is his first international job. I have to applaud him because he has made some brave decisions. He didn’t call up the players the majority of coaches would have called.

“But he has decided he wants the team to play a certain way, like a Premier League team. Nobody has done that before and nobody knows if it’s going to work. And I am not sure. I really am not sure.”

Despite having concerns over Tuchel’s tactics, Bilic still believes that England will be very tricky opponents.

He added: “The pressure is always on England and we do know this every time. You have the strongest league. England is producing unbelievable quality players.

“Based on history you are definitely not favourites, but your league is amazing. You won the Conference League, the Europa League and you were in the Champions League final. And it’s not as though there are no Englishmen in those teams. You are dominating in club football and it goes back 20 years.

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“So that makes you favourites every time you come to these tournaments and yes it doesn’t always help you. There is a big pressure on Croatia but the country is rooting for them. If they don’t play well, they will kill them in the media.

“But right now it’s all support. I remember times in England when there was lot of talk before games about scandals and non-football things and this and that. The pressure can be too big for them. We have seen that.”

Following their clash with Croatia, England will then turn their attention to a clash with Ghana ahead of their final group game against Panama .