England step up World Cup preparations as Tuchel praises Arsenal contingent after Costa Rica rout

England produced a dominant display to beat Costa Rica in Orlando
Thomas Tuchel praised the impact of Arsenal’s returning players
The Three Lions now head to Kansas City ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia

England manager Thomas Tuchel believes his side have taken a significant step forward in their World Cup preparations after an emphatic victory over Costa Rica in Orlando.

The Three Lions controlled proceedings from start to finish, enjoying 80 per cent possession and registering 28 shots in a performance that represented a marked improvement on last weekend’s narrow 1-0 win over New Zealand. Jude Bellingham impressed in an advanced role, while Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson all played key parts as England eased to a comfortable victory.

Tuchel had challenged his players to raise their level before kick-off and was pleased with the response.

“I said it before the match: we want to push it to the next level, from intensity, commitment and cohesion. We did that,” Tuchel said after the game.

“You could see the impact of the Arsenal players coming into camp. You could see also the impact of training, of course.

“We see the adaptation to the heat, to the climate and we see things clicking. But we demanded it today from the players to take the next step and they did. The players delivered and I’m proud of them, how they did it.

“Anyway, the most important thing is how we play and then the result takes care of itself. But we did it on a high level.”

The return of Arsenal quartet Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze has given England an added boost following their delayed arrival into camp after the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

England looked sharper, more cohesive and considerably more aggressive than they did against New Zealand, with Bellingham particularly influential between the lines as Tuchel’s side created chances throughout the contest.

The match was England’s final public warm-up fixture before the World Cup gets underway next week in North America.

Tuchel’s squad will now play a behind-closed-doors fixture against Miami United on Thursday before being granted a day off. They will then travel to Kansas City, their tournament base, ahead of next Wednesday’s Group L opener against Croatia in Dallas.

Reflecting on the progress made during England’s training camp in Florida, Tuchel believes the foundations are now in place for his side to approach the tournament with confidence.

“I think we set the tone today in the meeting and the players were ready to follow, to have the next step in intensity and the way we play, to push ourselves and get a good feeling out of it, which we absolutely did,” he said.

England face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L as they look to begin another World Cup campaign with genuine hopes of challenging for the trophy.

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.