Thomas Tuchel swapped the touchline for the pitcher’s mound on Thursday evening, throwing the ceremonial first ball at the Kansas City Royals’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals, just a day after masterminding England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener.
Dressed in a Royals baseball jersey, the England manager delivered his pitch to MLB side’s manager Matt Quataro at Kauffman Stadium, east of central Kansas City. Watching from the stands were captain Harry Kane, who scored twice against Croatia, and defenders Dan Burn and Djed Spence. The trio applauded as Tuchel completed his throw, then held up specially-made red England baseball kits.
“Thomas Tuchel threw the first pitch at an MLB game after England's 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia.”
Burn, a Newcastle defender, revealed himself as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, admitting he was “a bit of a glory-hunter” after the Steelers won the year he started watching. Kane, known for his love of American sports, has previously suggested he would try his hand at being an NFL kicker after retiring from football.
Earlier on Thursday, Spence and Burn are believed to have played in a behind-closed-doors friendly with local MLS side Sporting Kansas FC. The majority of Tuchel’s backroom staff also attended the baseball, including No2 Anthony Barry, goalkeeping coach Hilario, coach Justin Cochrane and lead analyst James Melbourne.
For fans who couldn’t make the journey to Texas, special fan zones have been set up around England to watch the game live. England’s victory over Luka Modric’s Croatia — who knocked them out of the 2018 semifinals — kicked off their World Cup campaign in style. But questions remain about their ability to end a 60-year trophy drought.
England won both final pre-tournament warm-ups in Florida: a 1-0 win over New Zealand and a 3-0 dismissal of Costa Rica, who did not qualify for the World Cup. However, earlier friendlies in March against Uruguay and Japan offered little encouragement, with Tuchel’s players fruitlessly chasing opponents who were “cleverer, more tactically and technically astute”, according to one analysis.
Despite the scepticism, bookmakers have England as third favourites to win the tournament. Tuchel, an excellent coach with a skillset attuned to international management, has managed to effect rapid change throughout his career. His squad selection has been controversial, but he values balance and specific roles over reputation.
As the World Cup continues — with a record 48 nations competing — England will need to prove their opening win was not a false dawn.