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Thomas Tuchel reflects on England's defeat to Japan Pro Sport Images

England’s warm‑up worries and why they need perspective

England’s flat Send-off Series sparked the usual hysteria, but Thomas Tuchel is planning for June not March. With key players returning and a gruelling World Cup ahead, the opener against Croatia in Dallas will be the real barometer on our World Cup chances, writes PHIL MARTIN.

04.04.26, 08:00 Updated 04.04.26, 00:40 4 Minute Read

Phil Martin

Phil Martin

England’s back‑to‑back limp displays at Wembley against Uruguay and Japan have generated a familiar level of hysteria from some quarters.

The matches were muddled, the performances flat, but the panic is premature, as the approach for the uninspiring Send-off Series was very different from what we can expect from England when the World Cup begins in June.

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Phil Martin

Phil Martin Author, journalist and veteran of eight major tournaments, and England top capper, with a background in sports writing, editing and publishing.

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