HARRY KANE has urged England to use their strength to power their way to victory over Croatia.
Thomas Tuchel has picked a squad of athletes who get their first chance to flex their muscles at the World Cup in their Group L opener in Dallas this evening.
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Harry Kane has warned Croatia to expect a physical battle Credit: Getty
Thomas Tuchel’s giant England side face Croatia in their World Cup opener Credit: Getty
Only five of England’s squad are under six foot tall Credit: Getty
England are hoping for a long spell Stateside this summer Credit: Getty
The burly group was bolstered on Tuesday by 6ft4in Trevoh Chalobah being drafted in to replace injured defender Tino Livramento.
Asked what his last instruction to the team will be before kick-off, captain Kane, 32, replied: “The messaging will be to go with freedom.
“We have an extremely strong team, we have a physical team. I think that’s going to be a big aspect of our game so go out there to use that.”
Tuchel’s 26-man squad contains just five players under 6ft, and even then the smallest – Bukayo Saka, Elliot Anderson and Eberechi Eze – still stand at 5ft10in.
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Pint-sized players like Phil Foden have not been selected as England opt for brawn in the sweltering Stateside conditions.
While the likes of 6ft4in left-back Nico O’Reilly, plus back-up defenders, 6ft7in Dan Burn and 6ft3in Jarell Quansah, tower over most opponents.
Skipper Kane, who is 6ft2in, is playing in his sixth major tournament and wants his team to leave everything out on the pitch.
It is the first World Cup action the team have had since losing in the quarter-final to France at Qatar 2022, during which the super striker uncharacteristically blazed over a penalty.
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This year’s World Cup is like no other as a record-breaking 48 nations compete to lift football’s biggest prize.
England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to finally bring football home after a 60-year drought.
But footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have other plans in what will likely be their final World Cup appearance.
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The Bayern Munich star said: “We’re here to go far in the tournament, that’s our aim, that’s our goal.
“I think the only regrets you can have coming away from tournaments is that you didn’t go for it.
“You can make mistakes, you can miss penalties like I’ve missed, but I don’t think those are the moments that stop you from sleeping at night.
“I think it’s the ones where you feel like you could have given more, you feel like you could have been a bit more free, you could have just went for it.
“Because when you lose, you lose anyway, it doesn’t matter how you lose, it’s the same result. I’d rather lose giving it everything, showing my best abilities, whether you make mistakes or not, I’d rather go out like that.
“The message is just to be free and don’t be afraid of any outcome, and we’ll have a great chance.”
The Three Lions have had to wait to kick off their campaign Credit: PA
Tuchel, whose team did not even concede a goal in World Cup qualifying, is hoping to be on the front foot at the home of the Dallas Cowboys today.
He said: “I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players. That’s what we try because it makes them comfortable.
“I feel clearly that the players want it and that it helps us, and that they are successful in club football like this.
“They compete in the strongest league, most of them, and the others who are not in the league compete in the highest level in Europe and Champions League and they play in brave and active teams and that’s what we try because it makes them comfortable.
“I think it makes things exciting and creates a certain energy, and we need a connection with our fans, who are here, with the fans at home, to create something special.”
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