Thomas Tuchel could not see his team. Standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers during the national anthems before England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, the head coach’s first World Cup match was spoiled. “I could not see one single player,” he said. “It ruined a little bit my experience.”
The problem was logistical. The Group L fixture at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, required the pitch surface to be raised 1.2m to fit a football field, eroding space on the sidelines and leaving coaches and photographers crammed together. Tuchel made an immediate plea: “I’m begging Fifa to change the position of the photographers.”
“Thomas Tuchel complained photographers blocked his view of England players during anthems; Fifa has now moved them.”
Fifa listened. After taking feedback from a number of people, including Tuchel, the world governing body altered its policy, introducing a compromise used at other tournaments. Photographers may now be grouped in a huddle, potentially closer to the halfway line, while coaching staff are no longer required to remain in front of the dugouts. Instead, they can move left or right for an unobstructed view of the squads around the centre circle.
The new approach was first deployed during Thursday’s Group A fixture between Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta. However, it remains unclear whether the changes will fully assuage Tuchel’s concerns. BBC Sport understands that the Football Association is still awaiting discussions with Fifa over the issue.