Thomas Tuchel took a deep breath and tried to keep his cool as the World Cup draw drew to a close in the US capital, an event that had veered wildly between the bizarre and the sublime. As he gazed out at the crowd of England fans who had gathered to watch their team's fate unfold, Tuchel seemed to be saying, "I've seen it all now." The permutations were being scrutinized by fans and pundits alike, with some speculating that Mexico or Brazil might await England in the last 16. For the German coach, it was a surreal experience.
The drama had reached its peak earlier in the day when Trump, who has long been at odds with FIFA over his support for Qatar to host the World Cup, accepted a Peace Prize from the organization's president, Gianni Infantino. As Infantino presented Trump with a trophy adorned with a gleaming gold medal and certificate, it seemed as though the US President was about to be inducted into Fifa itself.
Backstage at the Kennedy Center where the draw was taking place, a different kind of drama had erupted among England fans who were queuing for hours to get their hands on tickets. Hundreds of them braved sub-zero temperatures and security screening procedures to secure entry, only to discover that there wasn't enough space for everyone.
Tuchel's thoughts seemed focused elsewhere as he fielded questions from reporters, however. "We don't worry about our opponents," he said. "We don't worry about what can happen in the other groups." He added that his team was focused on controlling their own destiny and that they were eager to bring home a World Cup medal.
For Tuchel, it's not going to be easy. The draw has been criticized for its complexity, with three teams – Ghana, Panama, and Croatia – vying for just two spots in the knockout stages. The German coach seems to have taken this in stride, though, joking that he would expect a message from Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic soon.
England's history against some of their opponents will be an interesting factor in the coming days. They hold a record over Ghana but lost 2-1 to Croatia in their semi-final match at Euro 2020. The draw has also given them the opportunity to take on Panama, with whom they won 6-1 at the World Cup stage last year.
Whatever the outcome may be for Tuchel and his team, one thing is certain – this event will live long in memory not just because of its unpredictability but also due to some rather cringe-worthy moments.
The drama had reached its peak earlier in the day when Trump, who has long been at odds with FIFA over his support for Qatar to host the World Cup, accepted a Peace Prize from the organization's president, Gianni Infantino. As Infantino presented Trump with a trophy adorned with a gleaming gold medal and certificate, it seemed as though the US President was about to be inducted into Fifa itself.
Backstage at the Kennedy Center where the draw was taking place, a different kind of drama had erupted among England fans who were queuing for hours to get their hands on tickets. Hundreds of them braved sub-zero temperatures and security screening procedures to secure entry, only to discover that there wasn't enough space for everyone.
Tuchel's thoughts seemed focused elsewhere as he fielded questions from reporters, however. "We don't worry about our opponents," he said. "We don't worry about what can happen in the other groups." He added that his team was focused on controlling their own destiny and that they were eager to bring home a World Cup medal.
For Tuchel, it's not going to be easy. The draw has been criticized for its complexity, with three teams – Ghana, Panama, and Croatia – vying for just two spots in the knockout stages. The German coach seems to have taken this in stride, though, joking that he would expect a message from Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic soon.
England's history against some of their opponents will be an interesting factor in the coming days. They hold a record over Ghana but lost 2-1 to Croatia in their semi-final match at Euro 2020. The draw has also given them the opportunity to take on Panama, with whom they won 6-1 at the World Cup stage last year.
Whatever the outcome may be for Tuchel and his team, one thing is certain – this event will live long in memory not just because of its unpredictability but also due to some rather cringe-worthy moments.
i mean cant wait to see englands match up against panama again 
but seriously thomas tuchel seems like a cool guy who's trying to stay focused under all this drama 
he's right tho we dont know what the other teams are gonna do. and btw is trump really gonna be fifa or was that just a joke 
i need to get my hands on some england tickets btw heard its hard as nails lol 
. The security situation backstage was pretty crazy tho, I don't think any fan should have to freeze their bums off for a ticket 
. Trump getting a Peace Prize from FIFA is actually kinda weird, maybe it was just a PR stunt? 
Either way, the World Cup's gonna be lit! 
The drama unfolding at the World Cup draw has been nothing short of unpredictable, with twists and turns that have left fans on the edge of their seats. It's clear that Tuchel and his team are taking a deep breath and focusing on what they can control – bringing home a World Cup medal. Only time will tell if they'll be able to overcome the challenges ahead. 
. And Trump getting a Peace Prize from FIFA? Please, that guy is only good at stirring up controversy 
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. I'm sure Tuchel and his team are just thrilled to have all this extra pressure on their shoulders 
. And Croatia vs England in the last 16? That's gonna be a battle for the ages... if they can even make it that far 
They must've been so hyped and then just... out of luck. 
. I love how he's focusing on their own destiny instead of worrying about others. And can we give a shoutout to Croatia? 
. Tuchel, though, he's got his cool head about him, focusing on what he can control instead of worrying about the drama going down elsewhere. That's a life lesson for us all - stay present and focused on your own goals, don't get distracted by others' antics 
and those england fans queuing for hours in subzero temps are literally my spirit animals 
tuchel just staying calm and collected though that's a whole different level of cool 
fyi the world cup draw is looking good for england tho maybe they'll finally make it to the finals 
and can u imagine being in trump's shoes w/ a peace prize lol i think tuchel's just trying 2 keep it real & focus on his own game 
??
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that's the kinda attitude you need when you're tryna win a world cup 
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. I mean, think about it, Thomas Tuchel has seen it all, from the highs to the lows, and yet he still keeps his cool, it's almost as if he's saying "I've been here before" 
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and thats the whole point of hosting something like this, right? to bring ppl together and create unforgettable memories.
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