England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to write their children an excuse for school and let them stay up to watch Monday’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico – a 1am BST kick-off that pits the Three Lions against a co-host yet to concede a goal.
“There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch,” Tuchel said. “There will be a big match in four days, and we need the support of everyone, especially the children.”
“Tuchel urges parents to let kids stay up for 1am World Cup match; teachers plan delayed screenings.”
His plea comes after England scraped past DR Congo 2-1 on Wednesday, needing a late Harry Kane double to avoid a shock exit. The nervy performance was enough to panic former England midfielder Joe Cole, who admitted on Netflix’s Rest is Football show that he contemplated sacking Tuchel mid-game. “We were talking who’s the next England manager, is it Eddie Howe? Just before the hydration break, we’re trying to change the manager,” Cole said.
The drama on the pitch was mirrored off it, with tens of thousands of Londoners bunking off work early to pack pubs for the DR Congo match. One fan told the Standard: “We've got doctor's appointments....with Dr Congo.”
For families facing the 1am start, teachers are stepping in. Steve Heal, headteacher at Malmesbury Primary School in Wiltshire, said the school will open from 7am on Monday to show the full delayed game with breakfast. “That way they’re not going to miss a night’s sleep and they’re not going to miss a morning of school,” he said. “If it goes to extra time, I’ll take the Thomas Tuchel route and write them a note.”
England now travel to Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, 2,200m above sea level – thin air that Tuchel admitted his players will not have time to adapt to. Mexico, who have played all four of their games at high altitude, have yet to concede. The match is live on BBC TV, radio and online.