While Declan Rice and the rest of the England squad trained in vest tops under the Kansas City sun on Saturday, Thomas Tuchel was on the touchline in a hoodie. Not a fashion statement — a calculated one.
The FA has kitted out their coaching staff with specialist UV-filtering sun protection tops designed to block harsh rays while keeping the skin cool and dry. Tuchel wore his hood up throughout the session. Assistants Anthony Barry, Nicolas Mayer and Justin Cochrane were wearing the same gear. This wasn't accidental — England have done serious prep work on the climate conditions they'd face in the USA, and it shows.
More than just a hoodie
The sun protection tops are just one piece of a broader heat management strategy. Players are using high-tech palm-cooling devices and cooling vests during training. Studies cited by the FA suggest at least a third of matches at this World Cup will be played in temperatures above 26°C — not ideal conditions for a team drawn from the Premier League, where a warm day is 18 degrees and everyone complains about it.
Tuchel was part of a delegation that attended last summer's Club World Cup in the States specifically to scout these conditions. This level of preparation matters. Tournament football in extreme heat has derailed better-prepared squads than England. Teams that underestimate it pay for it in the third game of a group stage when legs go and concentration drops.
Saka concern ahead of Ghana
The more pressing issue from Saturday's session is Bukayo Saka, who was the only player absent from the outdoor pitch. The Arsenal winger is managing an Achilles problem and worked through an individual indoor programme instead.
Tuchel has already confirmed Saka is unlikely to start until England's final Group L game against Panama on June 27. That means he sits out Tuesday's match against Ghana in all likelihood — a significant absence for a side that relies heavily on his ability to create and carry play from wide positions. England's attacking threat narrows considerably without him, and anyone pricing up their offensive output in the next two fixtures should factor that in.
- Next match: England vs Ghana — Tuesday, 21:00 BST
- Saka's expected return: England vs Panama — Saturday 27 June, 22:00 BST
- Training base: Swope Soccer Village, Kansas City, Missouri
England are managing their star winger carefully. Whether that caution pays off by the time the knockout rounds arrive is the real question.
