Tuchel advises England players to holiday in US time zones before World Cup
The Story
England head coach Thomas Tuchel advised his World Cup players to take their post-season holidays in United States time zones to help with acclimatisation before the tournament. A total of 21 of the 26-man squad will arrive in Florida on Monday for the pre-tournament camp, where they will face New Zealand and Costa Rica in warm-up matches on 6 and 10 June. Many players are understood to have spent the off-season in the US or Caribbean at Tuchel’s request. The weather is a major factor, with studies indicating that nearly a quarter of all World Cup games are likely to be played in temperatures above 26°C. Adapting to time zones is also key: England’s training base in Kansas City, Missouri, is six hours behind UK time, the same as Dallas, where England open Group L against Croatia on 17 June. The remaining group matches against Ghana and Panama, in Boston and New Jersey respectively, are in a time zone five hours behind the UK. Several players, including Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, will join the squad later due to involvement in European finals. Premier League players Alex Scott, Jason Steele, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri will also join the training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Key Facts
- Thomas Tuchel advised his World Cup players to go on holiday in US time zones to aid acclimatisation.
- 21 of England’s 26-man squad will arrive in Florida on Monday for a pre-tournament camp.
- England will play warm-up matches against New Zealand (6 June) and Costa Rica (10 June).
- Studies suggest nearly a quarter of World Cup games will be played in temperatures above 26°C.
- England’s training base is in Kansas City, Missouri, six hours behind UK time.
- England’s opening group game against Croatia is in Dallas, also six hours behind UK.
- Group stage matches against Ghana and Panama are in Boston and New Jersey, five hours behind UK.
- Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson will join the squad later.
- Premier League players Alex Scott, Jason Steele, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri will also join the camp.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Thomas Tuchel (England head coach)
- Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka (Arsenal quartet)
- Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace goalkeeper)
- Alex Scott, Jason Steele, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King, Ethan Nwaneri (Premier League players)
Sources: BBC News
