THOMAS TUCHEL used his game-saving second hydration break to inspire THREE lions in the camp.
Just seven minutes into a nightmare first half, Brian Cipenga gave the side of unknowns and underdogs a shock lead.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
Thomas Tuchel used his final team talk to inspire his side to a crucial comeback Credit: Getty
The German manager has now turned England around after poor starts against Croatia and DR Congo Credit: Getty
And not much changed until just after the hour-mark, when the 53-year-old German finally started making some much-needed subs, with Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke swapped out for Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka.
With just 20 minutes left, England were still crashing out to World Cup minnows DR Congo.
But then Barcelona-bound Gordon produced two assists and hero Harry Kane converted both, on 75 and 86 minutes – to save the day and book the tickets to Mexico.
Tuchel, Alan Shearer and Fifa bigwig Gianni Infantino all felt the final drinks break, around 70 minutes, was a crucial turning point.
read more on the world cup
KATE & THE GREAT
Hero Kane kisses wife Kate as relieved stars & Wags celebrate DR Congo win
WORLDIE OFFERS
World Cup 2026 free bets and offers: Best new football sign-up deals
And Geoff Shreeves explained to Fox that he saw Tuchel use that late window to speak directly to a hat-trick of stars who helped Kane score that crucial brace.
The respected veteran reporter said: “When that water break started, Thomas Tuchel made a beeline for Jude Bellingham to give him instructions.
“Then he moved onto Anthony Gordon and finally Declan Rice.
WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS
England rehydrated for the final few minutes but also refreshed their minds with ideas and orders Credit: Getty
“After that, all the players got in a huddle, when he delivered probably the most important team talk of his international career.”
Gordon provided two assists from the bench, Rice put a right-back shift in, when the position continued to give us problems, and Bellingham had a couple of headed chances.
And it seems like Tuchel’s wise words mixed perfectly with the last few splashes of h20 that were guzzled or splashed around worried faces, with the clock ticking down.
The German gaffer said: “I make the most of it. You know I don’t really love them.
“I enjoy football more when it plays out with momentum and players and teams have to find their way into it in these kinds of momentums. It is a free-flowing game that is more interrupted than I thought.
“But they are here, why would I not try and take advantage? I felt today it was easier today to speak to players, they were very calm, very receptive.
“Sometimes the water breaks can be a bit chaotic, everyone tries to encourage, everyone has a message, everyone tries to help.
“I felt them quite calm and quite focused in the key moments.”
New World Cup 2026 rules
FIFA confirmed several new rules coming into play for the World Cup 2026.
They are:
Outfield players cannot go to technical areas while goalkeeper getting treatment
Five-second countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins
Ten-second substitutions – or else one-minute sub entry delay
One minute off field after outfield players get treatment
Three-minute hydration breaks in each half
VAR can intervene over fouls before ball in play for goals, penalties and disciplinary sanctions
VAR can correct wrongly-awarded yellow cards and corners
Red cards for covering mouth in confrontational talk
Red cards for walking off pitch in protest
Newcastle and England Shearer also spotted Tuchel giving personal pointers to a few good men.
The BBC pundit said: “I don’t agree with them but it has come at the right time for England.
“You can see Thomas Tuchel going around all his players because not one of them has put in a performance yet.”
