England coach Tuchel worries about pitch but keeps rotation

England manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed concern about the condition of the pitch for his team's World Cup warm-up match against New Zealand in Tampa, Florida, but stated it will not alter his planned team rotation. The Three Lions are preparing for their tournament opener against Croatia on June 17.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's friendly at Raymond James Stadium, Tuchel said he had seen a photograph of the playing surface that made him "a little bit worried and concerned." Reports indicate the grass pitch was installed approximately one week ago, with images appearing to show uneven sections. Tuchel said he has received assurances the pitch will be suitable, but added the team can react if issues arise during the match.

Despite these concerns, Tuchel confirmed his selection strategy remains unchanged. He plans to field two separate lineups, giving each player 45 minutes of action to manage workloads and continue building team cohesion. The match is viewed as a key part of acclimatizing to the North American heat and humidity ahead of the World Cup.

Tuchel also provided a positive update on captain Harry Kane's fitness. He described the Bayern Munich striker as being in "top...