ENGLAND VS COSTA RICA FRIENDLY – 10/06/2026 (PHOTO – ANTHONY GORDON AND DECLAN RICE CELEBRATE SCORING)

WHAT AN EXCITING FINAL FRIENDLY MATCH IT WAS FOR ENGLAND AGAINST COSTA RICA LAST NIGHT,
WHICH ENCOUNTERED A DELAY TO THE START OF THE MATCH BECAUSE OF A DOWNPOUR IN RAIN, PLUS, ALSO THUNDER AND LIGHTNING! WHEN INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE SCENARIO, THOMAS TUCHEL SAID MATTER-OF-FACTLY, “WE WERE AWARE OF THAT BEFORE – NOW WE EXPERIENCE IT.”

THOMAS TUCHEL WASN’T BOTHERED ABOUT THE WEATHER (BELOW)

“IT SHOULD NOT BE AN EXCUSE TO LOSE OUR MOOD OR PATIENCE OR TO LOSE OUR HUNGER TO PLAY THE GAME. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. WE REALISED IT WHEN WE WERE AT THE HOTEL SO IT WAS EASY. WE JUST SAID HALF-AN-HOUR LATER IN THE BUS AND LET’S GO.”

AND THAT IS HOW THEY DEALT WITH IT. NOT LETTING IT PUT THEM OFF THEIR STRIDE ONE IOTA, DOMINATING POSSESSION OF THE BALL FROM THE GET-GO (79%), AND PLAYING WITH AN INTENSITY WHICH WAS HARD FOR COSTA RICA TO GRAPPLE WITH, EVEN THOUGH THEY PLAYED WITH STRENGTH AND PHYSICALITY. DECLAN RICE WAS THE FIRST TO SCORE A BLINDER AT JUST 9 MINS., WITH ANTHONY GORDON SCORING A CRACKER FROM A PENALTY AT 68 MINS., (AFTER EBERECHI EZE’S SHOT WAS HANDLED), AND OLLIE WATKINS FINISHED OFF PROCEEDINGS, AFTER COMING OFF THE BENCH, WITH A STUNNER AT 87 MINS.. LEAVING THE ENGLISH FANS IN EUPHORIA! ENGLAND WILL NOW HAVE A BEHIND-CLOSED- DOORS MATCH WITH MIAMI FC, TO GIVE SOME OF THE PLAYERS WHO MAY NOT BE CALLED UPON SO MUCH, SOME EXTRA PLAYING TIME, BEFORE THE THREE LIONS PLAY CROATIA ON WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE AT 21.00 P.M.

ENGLAND VS COSTA RICA FRIENDLY HIGHLIGHTS – 10/06/2026

THOMAS TUCHEL SPEAKS AFTER THE MATCH

ENGLAND VS COSTA RICA – FULL POST-MATCH REACTION