Soccer
How England have become stronger at dealing with World Cup pressure
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Whether it is penalty shootouts, red cards, or lacklustre performances, the 'weight of pressure' has always been blamed for England's 60-year wait for another major trophy.
While Gareth Southgate made huge strides in freeing England's players and helping them enjoy wearing the Three Lions' shirt again, when it came to the big crunch, that pressure seemed to halt both him and his talented squad in their tracks.
After the opening 45 minutes of their World Cup 2026 campaign, it looked like Thomas Tuchel would experience the same issues and frustrations as his predecessors, as England laboured in Texas.
But after a stern yet impassioned half-time team talk, where the German reemphasised to his players that they should be themselves, not fear defeat, and go enjoy themselves, England put on one of their most memorable World Cup performances to wrap up a crushing 4-2 victory over Croatia.
So, the question is, are England finally free from the weight of pressure? Tuchel explains....
