WORLD CUP SHOCK TACTIC: THOMAS TUCHEL'S PLAN TO BEAT EXTREME SUMMER HEAT
England coach Thomas Tuchel reveals his extreme heat plan for the World Cup and speaks briefly on Jude Bellingham's substitution reaction.
Thomas Tuchel is thinking about having England's substitute players stay in the locker room until they're needed at next summer’s World Cup.
With temperatures expected to go above 40°C in some locations in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, the coach is thinking about how to protect his players from the heat.
Speaking in Washington, DC, before Friday’s World Cup draw, Tuchel said he might keep his reserves in a cooler place, watching the game on TV from inside the stadium.
If it helps us later in the game, when they sub in, we'll think about it, he said. No one wants this, as I like the players to be out here to feel and give energy from the bench, but I know it could help.
I saw teams and players do this at the Club World Cup. I hope we don't have to. It’s always better if they can be with us.”
Tuchel also said he looked at Jude Bellingham’s reaction to being taken out of the game during last month’s win in Albania, but told ITV it wasn't the appropriate time to talk about it.
Thomas Tuchel will find out who England will face in the World Cup group stage on Friday.
Tuchel has checked Jude Bellingham's reaction to being subbed against Albania.
“It’s obvious what happened, and I didn’t see it during the game,” he said. As you know, I’m in Washington now for the World Cup draw, so I'm not going to discuss it now.
Instead, Tuchel says he wants to come back from the States next summer as world champions.
If the players want it enough, anything can happen, he said. We'll be brave enough to hope for it and try to make it happen.
Everyone knows we can't promise a win, but they want to see a team that has team spirit, that goes all out, and that fights for each other. We're getting there. I think we're getting better, and that's what matters.
The focus will be on the team and team spirit, and hopefully, we will create positive momentum and energy around the team so strong that no one wants to play us.
WILFRIED NANCY: CELTIC BOSS BLOCKS OUT ALL "NOISE" AND CRITICISM AFTER HEARTS LOSS
After the heat following the Hearts' loss, Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy stated he has "blocked everything out," including social media criticism, to focus solely on the team's performance.
Celtic's head coach, Wilfried Nancy, said he tunes out all the noise when making decisions as a manager.
This comes after the Frenchman faced some heat after a 2-1 loss to Heart of Midlothian in his first game with the Glasgow team.
Before the Europa League match against AS Roma, Nancy said he doesn't pay attention to what others think.
When asked if those opinions bother him, he told a press conference, "That's a good question."
I'll be honest.
Every team I've coached—when I decided to become a coach—well, when I had the chance to become a coach, I'd been an assistant for seven years, working with many coaches.
I always told myself that when I became a coach, I'd block everything out. And that's exactly what I did.
He said he's built a wall between himself and any outside opinions, even online criticism.
I've blocked anything on Twitter that mentions my name, the club, or what people are saying.
People can say what they want. It's part of the job, and that's what we prepare for. I'm not here to comment on everything.
The manager explained that ignoring public opinion helps him focus on what he can control to improve how the team plays.
He used an analogy about how everyone has different tastes, like when people have different experiences with the same food.
We could visit a restaurant together, and you might love the food, while I don't.
Get what I mean? You like it, and I don't.
Nancy made his goals clear: he's focused on his players and the club and wants to do his best to give good performances.
He wrapped up by saying, At the end of the day, it's part of the job. I control what I can to be good with my players, my club, and the people I work with and to make sure we have the best chance of winning by playing well.
His team will play AS Roma in the Europa League tomorrow.
PEACE PRIZE SCRUTINY: FIFA FACES FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT UNILATERAL DONALD TRUMP AWARD
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is accused of four breaches of the ethics code by FairSquare, including awarding the first FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump at the World Cup draw.
After the World Cup draw last week, FIFA is facing a formal complaint about political neutrality. FairSquare, a nonprofit, sent FIFA’s Ethics Committee a detailed letter pointing out four possible violations by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the event, one of which was giving out the FIFA Peace Prize.
Calls for FIFA to Look Into It
FairSquare's complaint follows the World Cup draw. At the event, the awarding of the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize was part of several mentions of President Donald Trump. FIFA said the award recognised Trump’s work in promoting peace and unity around the world.
FairSquare believes that giving the prize, along with other things that happened during the event, might have gone against FIFA’s policy of being politically neutral. They've requested the ethics committee to look into the decision to create and give out the FIFA Peace Prize and whether it followed FIFA’s rules.
Infantino and Trump
Infantino and Trump have met a few times over the years, which isn't unusual, as FIFA presidents often meet with leaders from different countries. During the draw, Infantino made some comments about Trump.
He said he was surprised by negative comments about Trump. He stated that, regardless of not being American, Trump was elected in the United States, and one should respect the results of a democratic election.
FairSquare's complaint argues that these statements show a political stance, breaking FIFA’s neutrality rules.
FIFA's Ethics Code
FIFA's ethics code says that the organisation should stay neutral when it comes to politics. It specifically says FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion, also requiring everyone bound by the code to remain politically neutral when dealing with government groups.
Infantino has met with Trump a few times, including an invitation to the presidential inauguration and visits to the Oval Office.
Acting Alone
The Peace Prize given to Trump has been questioned, as it seems it was decided on and awarded without talking to senior FIFA officials. High-ranking FIFA officials were unaware of the award before its announcement. The award was revealed on the same day Infantino spoke at an event in the United States.