Thomas Tuchel frustrated by 'freestyling' England in World Cup warm-up as New Zealand boss says they 'will have to be better'

Thomas Tuchel was frustrated by England's "freestyle" first-half display against New Zealand as World Cup preparations stepped up with a scrappy 1-0 win in sweltering Florida conditions.

Harry Kane scored the only goal just before the break, instinctively steering home a Djed Spence cross at a sparsely-filled Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Tuchel played a different XI in each half in the first of two warm-up games before the tournament and liked more of what he saw from the second half, having been frustrated by some of the players' earlier approach.

• England latest: Bookmark for live updates from the camp
• England World Cup group guide
• World Cup day-by-day fixture list

"I'm OK with it," England boss Tuchel said after the narrow win. "I'm not super happy about it. I liked the second half more than the first half.

"I think we had more bite in the second half, were more aggressive on and off the ball, created a bit more. Some good half chances and some good penetrations into the box. We played more from our positions and that's why we played with more speed.

"The first half we were out of positions and it was a bit too much freestyle. That slowed our game down and made it difficult for counter-press because we were not in the positions that we wanted to be when we started attacking, so that's basically the story of the match."

'England need to be better,' says opposition boss

Tuchel's side were always expected to beat New Zealand, the lowest-ranked side at the World Cup, but their English head coach Darren Bazeley says his homeland need to improve if they are to succeed this summer.

"I think most countries, including England today, when they're playing their first game, they want to get everybody good minutes, acclimatised, get the legs moving heading into the World Cup," he said.

"England were good today, but they need to be better to go and win the World Cup than they were today, even though they won the game."

Tuchel was at least glad his side were exposed to "really, really hot" conditions - and relieved that his players emerged unscathed on what appeared a patched-up pitch.

"It was very difficult to play on," Tuchel said. "We have no injuries and there were no concerns but it was very uneven, very uneven. It was difficult to move the ball and move the ball quickly. When you have the ball for the majority of the match, it doesn't help you.

"We have four training sessions together and we mixed the team up completely, so we never played before in these combinations and formation. Then you have the conditions, the pitch, it can look like this."

Tuchel's message to players?

Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett:

"It was a very flat Thomas Tuchel who came to speak to us after the game, but I wonder whether he was giving his players a kick up the backside.

"I don't think the performance was that bad. These were the hottest conditions England have faced so far - 35 degrees - and it was bound to be disjointed as he played two different XIs. These games are never blockbusters.

"I was really impressed with Djed Spence, Marcus Rashford looked in the mood and Jude Bellingham was a Rolls Royce when he came on.

"Harry Kane's 79th England goal was the highlight - that is a goal that takes him level with Neymar in the international stakes. He told me afterwards he's never felt in such good shape.

"Arsenal's Champions League quartet are now in the US and that gives Tuchel a full roster to pick from for the final friendly against Costa Rica. He expects more than the tepid showing here; work to do, then."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Thomas Tuchel frustrated by 'freestyling' England in World Cup warm-up as New Zealand boss says they 'will have to be better'