Keane dismisses England players' praise for Tuchel's half-time talk after Croatia win

Roy Keane has poured cold water on the growing narrative around Thomas Tuchel’s half-time intervention after England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup Group L opener, insisting the manager was simply doing his job.

England trailed in momentum, if not on the scoreboard, at the break after Harry Kane’s brace had been cancelled out by Martin Baturina and Petar Musa. Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry were visibly unhappy with the first-half display, and the Three Lions emerged for the second half transformed — with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford among the scorers as England ran out convincing winners.

In the aftermath, Kane, Declan Rice, and Bellingham all publicly credited Tuchel’s dressing-room address as the catalyst. Kane said at full-time: “Credit to the manager. He gave us a speech at half-time, just to say if we lose we lose, but we lose in our way. You saw that the way we came out in the second half — we came out full gas. They couldn’t live with it.”

Rice was equally effusive, telling reporters: “He was top at half-time. The words he used, what he said, settled everyone. I can’t say too much, but it was just one of those moments where you’re like, wow, what a top manager. We went out in the second half, everyone was relaxed, and we just went for it.”

Keane, however, was unmoved. Speaking to ITV, the Manchester United legend said: “Is it a bit of an overreaction to his half-time team talk? What’s he supposed to do? That is his job, isn’t it? That’s the manager’s job — to give them the information and they go out and produce. That’s what any top manager will do. You get them at half-time and you remind them what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s a bit over the top.”

The result sends a statement from England, who were nervy in defence before the break but dominant after it. Kane acknowledged the mixed nature of the performance, saying: “I thought it was a game of two halves. First half we were OK but really disappointed to concede the way we did. In the end, a great result against a tough side.”

Rice added that England could have added further goals, noting Croatia’s goalkeeper was “unbelievable” in keeping the margin to two. The variety of scorers across the match was highlighted as a particular positive heading into the rest of the group stage.