‘afraid Of Nothing’: Thomas Tuchel Sure England Are Ready For Belgrade Bearpit

Thomas Tuchel has said that England’s youngsters will person nary fearfulness against Serbia and backed his squad to make a connection successful their daunting World Cup qualifier successful Belgrade.

Sitting successful a mini room overlooking nan transportation astatine nan imposing Rajko Mitic Stadium, location was a consciousness of Tuchel geeing himself up arsenic he looked extracurricular and took successful his surroundings earlier previewing nan conflict connected Tuesday betwixt nan 2 strongest sides successful Group K.

England’s caput coach is nether unit to nutrient a standout capacity contempt starting qualifying pinch 4 wins from four. The shot has been uninspired astatine times – England underwhelmed successful onslaught during their 2-0 triumph complete Andorra astatine Villa Park past Saturday – but Tuchel believes facing Serbia successful a ferocious ambiance tin ignite his reign.

“It is ever nan opportunity and I’ll ever spot it for illustration this,” nan German said. “This crippled is nan opportunity and I deliberation it will bring retired nan champion successful america that we are present successful Belgrade.”

Harry Kane and Tuchel some mentioned nan intimidating quality of nan tunnel, which is nan longest successful Europe astatine 240 metres. “The passageway is not truthful agreeable,” Tuchel said. “But that’s what it’s each astir now. It’s nice, you’re successful this country, this sporting nation, afloat of affectional people, afloat of value successful each athletics – particularly successful sports that person a ball.

“They are truthful talented and determined. That’s nan beauty of it and if you want to spell to a World Cup and to play for nan nationalist team, experiencing this is nan beauty. Tomorrow is 1 of these nights. And we’re up for it.”

England, who apical nan group by 5 points, are missing a big of cardinal players and are short connected experience. There could beryllium another start successful midfield for Elliot Anderson, who impressed connected his debut against Andorra, while Morgan Rogers, Tino Livramento, Morgan Gibbs-White and Myles Lewis-Skelly do not person galore caps betwixt them. Yet Tuchel, who said that Marc Guéhi has shaken disconnected nan groin rumor that forced him disconnected against Andorra, believes his players will emergence to nan occasion.

“Afraid of nothing,” Tuchel said. “The group was fantabulous passim nan week and everyone deserves to play. It is good, we person immoderate difficult choices and immoderate constrictive decisions to make. We will person a beardown chair and property is not decisive.”

Tuchel hopes that Jordan Henderson tin play a captious activity domiciled moreover if nan seasoned midfielder is not successful nan starting lineup. “Jordan has played here, Harry [Kane] has played present and they person talked already astir it,” he said. “The spectators will beryllium emotional, they will beryllium loud.”

Thomas Tuchel is missing a big of cardinal players for nan lucifer against Serbia. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

The anticipation is that England will look different heavy five-man defence. Tuchel is moving connected imaginative solutions. He is without Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka but believes that their replacements will not beryllium weighed down by anxiety.

“When nan chance comes you person to return it aliases different guys will travel and return your place,” Tuchel said. “That is nan quality of elite sport. I deliberation it has been an fantabulous campy pinch an fantabulous group. They are each very assured and eager to play.”

This is England’s first travel to Belgrade since facing nan aged Yugoslavia successful 1987. Tuchel’s players person held a gathering astir nan anticipation of racist maltreatment from nan crowd. The stadium’s capacity has been reduced by 15% because of instrumentality behaviour erstwhile Serbia faced Andorra successful June.

Branko Radujko, wide caput of nan Football Association of Serbia, has utilized his programme notes to impulse spectators not to spoil tonight’s occasion. “In summation to nan spectacle we expect connected nan pitch, fto maine tie attraction to thing conscionable arsenic important: behaviour of each of america successful nan stands,” he said. “This lucifer of truth besides carries awesome responsibility.

“We are still nether typical monitoring of Uefa. Every inappropriate reaction, reproach aliases incident could costs america dearly connected our way to nan USA, Mexico and Canada, including nan anticipation of having to play a decisive lucifer pinch Albania down closed doors.

“That is nan logic I sincerely and earnestly telephone connected you: fto america cheer from nan bosom but fto it beryllium fair. We tin beryllium large but dignified. Let our support beryllium a root of strength, not a consequence for nan nationalist team.”