England manager Thomas Tuchel has backed his squad to handle the disappointment of Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat, saying the players do not need a special lift ahead of the national team’s friendly against New Zealand. Tuchel said finals are often decided by “one or two shots” in a penalty shootout, and argued that losing in that manner shows two sides were closely matched. He also said he understands the pain of such defeats from his own experience, but believes the Arsenal contingent in his squad should already know they have had a strong season.
England’s preparations for the match in Florida have also been shaped by concerns over the pitch at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Guardian reporter David Hytner said the surface had been recently relaid and was harder than a typical Premier League pitch, though New Zealand captain Chris Wood said the surface seemed acceptable after training on it. England are due to kick off at 9pm BST.
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Tuchel has also been managing the wider distractions of the summer transfer window. He said he has effectively banned transfer talk on match days and the day before games, but is comfortable with players dealing with speculation in the background. The comments come amid uncertainty around several England players, including John Stones, Elliot Anderson and Marcus Rashford.
There was more injury disappointment elsewhere among teams preparing for the World Cup. Germany’s teenage prospect Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a muscle injury in training. The Bayern Munich midfielder was expected to feature prominently, but has been replaced by RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouédraogo. Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner is also set to miss the World Cup after a muscle injury in a friendly warm-up.
In South America, Paraguay forward Julio Enciso was stretchered off in tears during a 4-0 friendly win over Nicaragua, and the national team says he will undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage. Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi will miss the World Cup after sustaining a calf injury in training.
Belgium enjoyed a convincing 5-0 win over Tunisia, with Romelu Lukaku making another appearance off the bench as he continues his comeback. The striker, who has struggled for starts at Napoli, also provided an assist.
There was concern for Iraq after striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours on arrival at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. He was eventually allowed into the United States, but the team’s photographer was denied entry. Reuters reported that the questioning involved phone checks and drew criticism from the Iraqi side.
Canada drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in its final warm-up match, while Haiti lost 2-1 to Peru after a late collapse. Scotland coach Steve Clarke said Haiti’s recent win over New Zealand could serve as a warning against complacency before Scotland meet them in Group C.
Off the pitch, FIFA came under pressure after cancelling free tickets mistakenly issued to around 60 fans because of a payment error. The governing body asked buyers to pay the correct amount, adding to ongoing criticism of its ticketing system. Mexico, meanwhile, is increasing security around Mexico City’s Zocalo plaza ahead of the World Cup Fan Fest amid protests and unrest.
In club news, Brighton confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna from AIK, with reports suggesting a fee of £21.5m. Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler praised the youngster’s pace, creativity and ability to take on defenders, calling him an exciting addition to the attacking line.
