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Thomas Tuchel has expressed strong confidence that his England squad is fully primed for an 'amazing' World Cup campaign following their commanding 3-0 victory against Costa Rica in a friendly held in Orlando. The German head coach hailed the exceptional unity and collective determination within the camp as the Three Lions aim to end their six-decade-long wait for global triumph.

Confident display in Florida

England produced a highly convincing and controlled performance in Florida, even after the kick-off was delayed by an hour due to local thunderstorms. Goals from Declan Rice, an Anthony Gordon penalty, and a late header by Ollie Watkins sealed a comfortable win, extending England’s remarkable streak to nine straight victories away from home or at neutral venues. Importantly, the team avoided any injuries, with Jude Bellingham impressing in the number 10 position ahead of the tournament.

Tuchel commends team spirit

After the match in Orlando, Tuchel expressed deep satisfaction with his squad’s tactical execution and togetherness. Reflecting on the performance, he said, “We set the tone today in the meeting and the players were ready. If we can really play like this and grow into the tournament and have this kind of cohesion and brotherhood and team spirit that we showed today, then we will have an amazing connection with the fans and this will hopefully be an amazing experience.”

Coach embraces tournament challenge

The commanding display underscored England’s flexibility in attack, with new Barcelona recruit Anthony Gordon and Arsenal’s Noni Madueke consistently troubling the Costa Rican backline. Looking forward to the intensity of the World Cup, Tuchel added, “It's the World Cup and it's coming. Once the ball is rolling and the games are already there, then we'll feel it…the tension will grow, but it's normally the stuff that I personally enjoy the most, when you feel that you're alive.”

Final preparations in Kansas City

The England squad will now return to West Palm Beach for another training session and a closed-door tactical game against Miami FC to sharpen match readiness. After a brief rest, Tuchel’s players will travel to their main tournament base in Kansas City to complete their final preparations before the competition begins. England will kick off their World Cup campaign in six days, taking on a strong Croatia side in Dallas on June 17.

How far can England go in the World Cup?