Harry Kane reveals what Thomas Tuchel said to England players at half-time: ‘If we lose, we lose’

Harry Kane revealed what England manager Thomas Tuchel said to his players at half-time of the World Cup win against Croatia on Wednesday.

>England were pegged back twice in the first-half in Dallas, with Tuchel’s assistant Anthony Barry criticising the players in an interview with ITV at half-time, describing their display as “complicated and confusing.”

>Yet the Three Lions came out in the second-half a team reinvigorated. Jude Bellingham put them back in front with a wonderful solo goal and Tuchel’s side could have been out of sight if it wasn’t for the brilliance of Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

>But Marcus Rashford made sure of all three points with his well-taken goal five minutes from time and Kane, who went level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time goalscorer at World Cups, explained that Tuchel told his players their philosophy must change.

>“The manager gave a speech,” Kane said. “He just said: ‘If we lose, we lose, we lose in our way.’

>“Without the ball, we went a bit more aggressive. In the second-half, we thought we just go. The intensity we went at, we have to do that more this tournament.

>Asked if that was the framework for the rest of the World Cup, Kane said: “That second-half, for sure. Even the way we controlled the game, even when we went ahead, never looked like we were in danger.

>“We had a spell there, first 20 minutes [of second-half] where we could have scored three or four. You can see the desire from Jude [Bellingham] in training, the competition we have in the place is high level, whoever plays is ready.”

>Speaking to ITV after the game, Bellingham added: “The second-half especially, we showed what we were about, the team we want to be was shown. The first-half we were a bit nervy and cagey. But second-half was the platform.”

Jude Bellingham scored England’s third in the win against Croatia after Harry Kane’s first-half double (Getty)On Tuchel’s ‘speech’ at half-time, Bellingham said: “It wasn’t one of those where it was a big drama or shouting, it was just what the team needed. Everyone knew the level we needed to hit, the early goal gave us a good platform.

>“Credit to the manager and his staff, they’ve put us the best place possible.”

>Tuchel himself also spoke on what he told his players at the interval, saying: “I was sitting down with the players. I gave them quiet time for themselves, told them to calm down having just conceded a goal.

>“To calm down, calm their nerves, and encourage them to do it our way.

>“I told them that my perception of them and of the last 17 days, will not change with this result, no matter what the result is. But I want them to do it their way, our way.

>“I want them to be brave, courageous, intense, and on the front foot, and do it together and just go for it, and try to take it, and be active.

>“I encourage them with words, which was short, was calm and, yeah, if they say it helped, even better”.

>England next face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday and a win will qualify Tuchel’s side for the knockout phase.