Tuchel reminds England not to let their guard down as recovery and training continue.

The third round of group stage matches in Group C of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League will take place, with England traveling to face Croatia. Tuchel stated that their location is ideal for player recovery and training, but also cautioned the players against becoming complacent.

England defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 in the last round of group matches, thanks to goals from Gordon and Kane.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said at a press conference, "We have been paying close attention to the players' fatigue levels in recent training sessions. The three days between the two games are very important for us, as they allow us to better take care of players who have had a lot of playing time, such as Elliott Anderson and Gordon."

“Everyone except Nico Aurelli participated in training this time. It’s a pity he had to leave the training camp for treatment, but the other players completed the training at a very high level. We are now in a beautiful place with great weather and very friendly people.”

Tuchel shared, “We are a team that likes to be together, so we get along like friends, both the coaching staff and the players. We spent seven weeks together in the United States before, so we have built a deep relationship with each other, and now we have the opportunity to come to such a beautiful place.”

"This place is very beautiful and a great place to recover and prepare for the game. We expect a very tough match tomorrow against a football powerhouse and a proud nation, and Croatia has many high-level players."

In head-to-head records, England has won 2 and lost 1 of their last 3 matches against Croatia, while the "Checkered Ones" lost 1-4 to Spain in the last round of the group stage.

Tuchel stated, "They have experienced players in their squad, as well as a good combination of young players, plus the new head coach Bilic. So we are all well aware of this situation, and everyone wants to make a good impression on the new head coach, and everyone is prepared to give their all for him."

"This is the situation we will face tomorrow. This match feels a bit like a cup match, and we will prepare carefully. They are technically very high-level and are top-level competitors. These two countries have played each other many times over the years, so this will be a very exciting match."

In addition, Tuchel emphasized, "We can't relax in such a beautiful place. We can't let our guard down and go into vacation mode. Then tomorrow a lot of kids come to the stadium, and it feels a bit like a preseason game."

"But this is not a preseason game, it is a crucial UEFA Nations League match, and it is also something we must maintain our professionalism and take seriously."

Image source: Internet