Manchester United legend Roy Keane believes there’s been an overreaction to Thomas Tuchel’s half-time team talk against Croatia. England ran out 4-2 winners against their Group L rivals, to send a clear statement of intent.
It was a brilliant second-half display from the Three Lions, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford among the goals to pick up three points in the group opener. A brace from Harry Kane had been canceled out by Martin Baturina and Petar Musa’s fine first-half finishes.
However, Tuchel and assistant coach Anthony Barry were unhappy with the first-half display. The likes of Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham have all come out to praise the head coach for his comments during the break, which acted as a catalyst for the second-half display.
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However, Keane isn’t having any of it. Speaking to ITV, the United legend said: “Is it a bit of an overreaction to his half-time team talk? What’s he supposed to do?
“That is his job isn’t it? That’s the manager’s job to give them the information and they go out and produce.
“That’s what any top manager will do, you get them at half-time and you remind them what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s a bit over the top.”
View 2 ImagesThomas Tuchel(Image: Getty Images)
England looked bright going forward against Croatia, but looked nervy at the back prior to Tuchel’s half-time message and Kane hailed the manager at full-time.
The Three Lions forward said: “I thought it was a game of two halves. I thought first half we were OK but really disappointed to concede the way we did, the way we dropped off.
“Credit to the manager. The manager gave us a speech at half-time, just to say if we lose we lose, but we lose in our way.
“You saw that the way we came out in the second half, we came out full gas. They couldn’t live with it and that’s the level we have to set every game.
“Credit to everyone. The first game of the tournament. A great result against a tough side.”
Rice was also among the players to praise Tuchel, the Arsenal star said: “All round I think it was a great performance. He [Tuchel] was top at half-time. The words he used, what he said, settled everyone.
“I can’t say too much, but it was just one of those moments where you’re like, wow, what a top manager. I think we went out in the second half, and everyone was relaxed, and we just went for it.
“In the end, obviously, we could have scored a lot more than what we did. Their goalkeeper played unbelievably well. But to get a win and to have different goal scorers was brilliant.”
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