Thomas Tuchel has asked his England players to remain professionally focused ahead of Saturday’s UEFA nations League fixture against Croatia in Rijeka, warning that the unusual match environment must not lead the squad to underestimate the competitive importance of the game.
- Tuchel warned England not to become complacent ahead of the nations League game in Rijeka.
- The match will be played behind closed doors because of a UEFA sanction; a small number of children and travelling fans will attend.
- Tuchel described the stadium as small and close to the pitch and said the team must treat the fixture as a competitive match.
Confirmed details from the England camp
The England head coach spoke to media ahead of the trip to Croatia and set out the context: the match will be played behind closed doors because of a UEFA sanction on Croatia for crowd behaviour at a previous home game with France. Tuchel underscored that, while the setting will be atypical, the fixture is still a vital Nations League game and the players must approach it accordingly.
What Tuchel said
Tuchel welcomed the fact that a small number of local children and a limited group of travelling England supporters will be allowed into the stadium, saying it will be a “unique occasion” for those present given the compact nature of the venue. He acknowledged that the atmosphere will feel “very, very different” from a normal international fixture and that everyone involved must factor that into their preparations.
Speaking about how the environment might affect his squad, Tuchel warned: “We cannot fall asleep in the beautiful place where we are. We cannot switch off and be in holiday mode… But it’s not pre-season. It’s a crucial game in the Nations League.” These are Tuchel’s words as reported by the FA’s englandfootball.com coverage of the press conference.
Why the setting is unusual — and what it means
- The match is behind closed doors because of a UEFA punishment related to previous crowd behaviour at Croatia’s home fixture with France; only a handful of local children and a small number of loyal travelling England fans will be admitted.
- Tuchel described the stadium as “very small and very close up to the players,” which he said makes the occasion special for those attending but also changes the feel for the players on the pitch.
- He framed the altered atmosphere as an additional factor the team must manage professionally rather than a reason to relax the usual competitive standards.
Camp mood and broader context
England’s camp, as reported by the FA, is relaxed and positive in the run-up to the game, but Tuchel emphasised that a relaxed mood cannot become complacency. The BBC’s live coverage of the press conference noted Tuchel addressed other topics in the session, including how the recent Manchester City-related verdict was a “big topic in the camp” and provided an update on squad availability; those points were part of the wider conference but the FA account focused primarily on the Croatia-specific preparations and atmosphere.
Practical implications for the team
- Match intensity: Tuchel’s message makes clear England should maintain full competitive intensity despite fewer fans and an atypical matchday routine.
- Preparation adjustments: Staff and players will need to replicate match pressure in training and pre-match routines to counter the quieter environment.
- Opportunity for outreach: Allowing local children and a small group of travelling fans into the stadium creates community value and a close-up experience for those supporters, an element Tuchel highlighted as positive.
Timeline of confirmed items
- Pre-match press conference: Thomas Tuchel spoke to media ahead of the Nations League fixture in Rijeka (englandfootball.com reported Tuchel’s remarks).
- Venue status: Game to be held behind closed doors due to UEFA sanction on Croatia’s earlier crowd behaviour (reported by englandfootball.com).
- Admission exceptions: A small number of local children and a limited group of loyal travelling England fans will be permitted entry (reported by englandfootball.com).
What happens next
England travel to Rijeka for the scheduled Nations League match. Tuchel and his staff will finalise selection, matchday routines and tactical preparations while working to ensure the squad maintains the focus he has demanded. The FA’s match coverage will follow the team’s arrival and in-stadium preparations, as noted in the pre-match report.
Sources and attributions
This article is based on the England FA’s pre-match coverage of Thomas Tuchel’s press conference. Additional context about the wider press conference was drawn from BBC Sport’s live reporting. Direct quotations and the description of the closed-door status are taken from the FA’s report of Tuchel’s media briefing; other items are paraphrased from the same sources.