World Cup: England win final warm-up against Costa Rica – are they ready to challenge for tournament glory? | Football news

Declan Rice called it his “best performance” against Costa Rica. This left Thomas Tuchel “very proud”. So are England now primed and ready to go on and win the World Cup?

That 3-0 win over Costa Rica was a big step up from Saturday’s victory over New Zealand and appeared to have instilled confidence in England’s players and coaching staff. Their sizable support in Orlando also sang loud and proud in the stands.

The enthusiasm of the rabid English fans was not dampened by the hour delay due to the pre-match storm. On the contrary, they seemed encouraged by what they saw.

A week after England’s first World Cup with Croatia, it was the encouraging final warm-up that Tuchel and his team-mates had hoped for. Attractive performances, intensity despite the heat and, importantly, no injuries.

There is still work to be done, including a behind-closed-doors friendly against local club Miami on Thursday. But England’s prospects are gathering pace given the side’s apparent trajectory.

Time to believe?

Scorer Rice certainly feels like things are coming together. “We have adapted to the heat, now it is not a problem,” he said ITV. “We talked all week about how myself, Anthony (Gordon) and Nico (O’Reilly) were going to rotate and be fluid – you saw that in the first half. We build confidence and fitness going into the first game. It’s really good.”

Tuchel couldn’t be more pleased. “Tonight puts my mind at ease because we’re absolutely on the right track and I’m very proud of the team spirit,” he told the broadcaster. “The guys that came in were influential and the guys on the bench pushed. This is exactly what we wanted.”

Sky Sports News Rob Dorsett, watching from the press box in Orlando, described England as “positive, dynamic, energetic throughout”, adding: “They pressed high and effectively despite the heat and humidity.”

More pessimistic observers might argue that a win over a team that failed to qualify for the World Cup is nothing to get excited about given the quality of Croatia’s future.

They can also point out that England’s energy late in the game was provided by the substitutions when most of the starting team was removed after an hour on a hot and humid Florida day.

So when the World Cup kicks off on Thursday, what do England’s chances look like? Are you finally ready to take a step towards the glory of the winner of the European Championship? Or is this pre-tournament optimism misplaced?

Reasons to believe

Thomas Tuchel – The coach of the England national team is one of the most respected coaches at the World Cup. He showed a cruelty to star names that was alien to his predecessors, but at the same time created a unified group. England will be hoping that his tactical understanding and attention to detail will make the difference.

“Brotherhood” – There are no clicks of the past in this England team. Tuchel – like Gareth Southgate before him – prefers the bonds between his players. That could be key with talented players vying for the same starting roles in many areas of the attack.

Harry Kane – Captain Fantastic is going into this World Cup after the best scoring season of his career. No injuries. Please don’t talk about him going too deep. Kane is a leading contender for the Ballon d’Or in the form of his life.

Reasons for fear

Heat and fatigue – How often have we seen England’s stars waste away in the midst of a hot summer tournament? This may be one of the most brutal in recent memory. England authorized sports scientists to come up with a solution and discussed their acclimatization. But England fans will be sweating over this question. After another busy Premier League campaign, do these players have the energy to perform at their best when it matters for their country?

If not Kane, then who? – Ollie Watkins will be hoping his poacher’s goal against Costa Rica will allay some fears about Kane’s alternative. But let’s face it, the skipper’s fitness and form at this World Cup is likely to be crucial.

Beat the big boys – England’s track record against top teams will limit England’s expectations for many. France at the last World Cup. Spain on the euro. When England faced a big name, they regularly struggled under Southgate. Their draw at this World Cup could suggest that they will need to beat Brazil, Argentina and Spain back-to-back to win.

what next?

The World Cup has officially begun! Mexico v South Africa opens the tournament on Thursday 11 June; kick off at 8pm UK time.

England start their World Cup campaign against Croatson Wednesday, June 17 in Arlington, Texas, with the first game of Group L starting at 9:00 p.m.