Tuchel frustrated as photographers ruin 'emotional' anthem moment

FootballSports
18 Jun 2026 • 3:22 PM MYT
DPA International
DPA International

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England head coach Thomas Tuchel has complained he could not see his players singing the national anthem because of a scrum of photographers blocking his view and has urged FIFA to intervene.

The German led England to a 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening World Cup game at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Wednesday, with Harry Kane grabbing a brace and Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford netting one apiece.

He was unhappy that for his first finals match as England boss, he could not see his players during the rendition of God Save The King.

“I have to tell you something, I am begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the national anthem because I could not see my team in the national anthem,” he said.

“I was waiting for this moment. It was a very, very special moment today and I was standing in front of a wall of 50 photographers, half a metre away, and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit my experience.

“It is very emotional. When I was young and when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of this kind of occasion.”

FIFA has been contacted for comment.