SPURFECT MATCH

Tuchel grew up a Tottenham fan and has connected with the nation

- FROM JOHN CROSS IN KANSAS CITY

ENGLAND fans were delighted by three points in the opening game - but perhaps just as happy when Thomas Tuchel then showed he has become familiar with English culture.

The manager talked about wanting to entertain fans watching on big screens back home with an exciting brand of football.

Tuchel did just that in England's six-goal thriller against Croatia in Dallas and promised to "take the handbrake off" again as he immediately thought about the pubs back home.

It was a nod from Tuchel about understanding England, England fans and English football because this is a manager who completely gets it.

There has been an affinity with England since he was a kid, even admitting he used to support Tottenham when he was growing up.

Tuchel recalled watching Chris Waddle play for England in Italia 90 and idolised them when he was a kid, pretending to be his heroes.