Tuchel Makes Set-Pieces Central to England World Cup Plan Using Arsenal Model

Overview

• Monday's reporting confirms Thomas Tuchel has prioritised set-pieces and said he brought specialists for different dead-ball scenarios when he named his World Cup squad.
• Arsenal supplied more players to England than any other club and Tuchel has been drawing on the club’s season-long set-piece routines as a template for national training.
• Declan Rice is set to start and act as one of England’s principal set-piece takers while other tall starters provide clear aerial targets from corners and free-kicks.
• England rehearsed specific routines in warm-up games against Costa Rica and New Zealand, using short corners, near-post movements and subtle screening patterns to create chances.
• Coaches are adjusting movements after a VAR interpretation now allows referees to cancel goals for pre-play blocking fouls, and Bukayo Saka will be used carefully because of tendonitis.