Every coach dreams of leading a nation to the World Cup, and Thomas Tuchel is no different. Having taken charge of the England national team last year, the German tactician is tasked with bringing the nation its first international trophy in 60 years. However, instead of witnessing a rousing preamble to England’s opener against Croatia, Tuchel was greeted by an onslaught of flashes and denied a special moment. While his first World Cup match ended on an uplifting note, he made his feelings known to FIFA.

“I’m begging FIFA to change the position of photographers during the national anthem. I couldn’t see my team”, said Tuchel after the match. “I was waiting for this moment, it’s a very special moment, and I was in front of a wall of 50 photographers. I couldn’t see a single one of my players, and it ruined my experience.”

Securing a World Cup assignment is one of the most significant opportunities for any professional photographer, and they aim to capture the best moments from the ground. When both teams enter the field for their national anthems, the atmosphere is emotionally charged for players and coaching staff alike, making for an ideal time for clicks.

However, in this instance, a cluster of photographers had gathered in front of the England dugout, a common sight at this World Cup, attempting to get close-up shots of the coach and his entire team as the anthems were sung. Much to Tuchel’s frustration, it completely blocked his line of vision and dampened an emotional moment.

What made it even more frustrating was that Tuchel had confessed to not feeling at ease yet in joining his team in singing “God Save the King“, fearing it would attract unnecessary attention. After his tough tenure as coach of German giants Bayern Munich, Tuchel’s latest stint has added significance, with a chance to reinstate England at the top of international football. This made it all the more important for him to watch his men sing before their first test at the 2026 World Cup.

Although his complaints have yet to be echoed by other managers at the event, several high-profile coaches have accused photographers of being invasive and often entering the technical area of the team’s dugout during matches.

In the club scene, coaches such as Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have issued similar grievances. Going further back, Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal expressed his annoyance at photographers taking pictures of the team’s practice sessions at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Although Tuchel was disenchanted with the pre-match courtesies, his team delivered an impressive performance against Croatia.

England under Tuchel off to a winning start at the World Cup

England began its Tuchel era at the World Cup with a high-octane display,  earning a solid 4-2 win against a stubborn Croatian squad. The Balkan team had previously left a wound on the Three Lions, knocking them out in the semifinal of the 2018 World Cup. Five players from that squad — Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, John Stones, Jordan Henderson, and Jordan Pickford — feature in Tuchel’s World Cup roster, fresh with those memories.

However, on this occasion, the English team started strongly, with captain Harry Kane easing the nerves by converting a retaken penalty at the 12th minute.

Yet the lead did not last long, as Martin Baturina brought the score back to parity with a long-range thunderbolt. Tuchel’s team, however, maintained its shape and intent, pressing Croatia until a set-piece broke the deadlock.

Kane once again rose to the occasion, scoring his second goal with a guided header. The English talisman equaled Garry Lineker’s World Cup goal record of 10.

True to form, Croatia responded, this time with a deft lob over the English defense, which eventually ended with Peter Musa making it 2-2 going into halftime. This was where Tuchel had to galvanize his players, and he did so.

Jude Bellingham, whose place in the starting lineup was shrouded in doubt, raced through the right wing and hit a tremendous finish to give England the lead. The plan seemed clear; England maintained its compact structure but upped the ante.

Not to rest on his laurels, the German coach made his first set of substitutions at a World Cup, bringing on attacking reinforcements: Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Morgan Rogers. The move paid off as Rashford scored the fourth goal, ending Croatia’s challenge and any worries regarding the squad — for now.

Talks before the match featured heavy speculation on team selections, landing Tuchel in hot water among fans and experts. He had notably omitted the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, a daunting step for a national team whose first and only World Cup triumph came in 1966.

However, this win will give the squad and its coach a lot of relief ahead of their clash against Ghana on June 23 in Boston.