It has been 60 years since England's first and only World Cup victory, and ever since, the football powerhouse has had high hopes for a second star on their jerseys. The weight of expectation has grown heavier for the Three Lions with every tournament. This year, under the leadership of their newly appointed German coach, Thomas Tuchel, the team is travelling to the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Manuel Cardoni played for Luxembourg against England in the 1990s. He notes that, although that team featured some "very good young talents", such as Michael Owen and David Beckham, their style of play was quite different from today's. Cardoni, who played in 68 international matches for the Red Lions, says that football was much more defined by kick-and-rush tactics, emphasising long balls, mentality, and grit.
Today, that is no longer the case. The influence of international managers in the English league, such as Arsène Wenger, Jürgen Klopp, and Pep Guardiola, has made football on the island much more tactical. The focus is now on "possession and combination play." Football in England has "developed extremely", Cardoni continued.
The most significant development is the abundance of young talent in England who are becoming genuine stars at an increasingly early age. For Manuel Cardoni, who has faced the Young Lions before as coach of the Luxembourg U19 and U21 teams, this can be a huge advantage. A large player pool means more competition, and the coach can quickly find good replacements in case of form fluctuations or injuries. However, Cardoni also points out that too many new players could make it more difficult to build a "stable team."
Yet, that is not the only challenge facing English football. Cardoni also highlights the immense media pressure on young talent, arguing that the combination of high expectations and lucrative contracts can be a heavy burden for up-and-coming players. According to Cardoni, it is therefore the coach's responsibility to assemble the right squad.
It is precisely the squad selection that has recently drawn considerable criticism aimed at Thomas Tuchel in the English media. Besides omitting players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire from the World Cup squad, Tuchel's decision to leave Cole Palmer and Phil Foden at home caused much disbelief.
Despite the criticism, Manuel Cardoni believes Thomas Tuchel has enough experience to "sort it out." Before a big tournament, everyone suddenly becomes a football expert with their own opinions but, at the end of the day, only 26 players are selected. Tuchel certainly has his reasons for his decisions. He may have preferred selecting based on "tournament logic" and "hierarchy" rather than individual ability. Nevertheless, one only learns from experience. Of course, it's also possible that the non-nominations could prove fatal, according to Cardoni.
Despite the immense pressure and criticism directed at the manager, Manuel Cardoni believes that the Three Lions could go far. "England's chances of winning the title are already realistic. They are certainly among the favorites. They have an impressive squad with many world-class players who have plenty of experience in major tournaments, as well as players who regularly compete in the Champions League." If everything pans out, Cardoni believes that England can go far. He believes they should at the very least make it to the semi-finals.
Before ending their wait for a major title dating back to 1966, England must first prove themselves against Croatia on 17 June, then against Ghana on 23 June, and finally against Panama on 27 June.
In addition to England, Croatia is also firmly planning on advancing to the knockout stage. The 2018 runners-up and 2022 third-place holders hope to upset the top teams again this year. Coach Zlatko Dalić's team finished their qualifications undefeated and will therefore enter the World Cup in good spirits. The squad consists of experienced players, such as 40-year-old Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, and Andrej Kramarić, as well as young talent, like Luka Vušković, who has had an excellent season with Hamburg.
After failing to qualify for the Africa Cup last winter, there was unrest within the Ghanaian Black Stars. Following disappointing results in warm-up games, the team parted ways with coach Otto Addo in March. Carlos Queiroz, a Portuguese coach, then took over and naturally did not have much time to prepare for the World Cup. Given their recent results, Ghana is considered an underdog, but the squad, with players like Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Fatawu, and Inaki Williams, is certainly capable of pulling off an upset.
This is Panama's second time at the World Cup since 2018, and they are once again considered underdogs. While they are unlikely to stand a chance against England and Croatia, their only hope is the opening match against Ghana. If Thomas Christiansen's team pulls off an upset, they could potentially secure a spot in the round of 16 as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Regardless, qualifying for the tournament is a major success for the Central American nation.
