The England manager's masterstroke: Thomas Tuchel is borrowing a page from the Arsenal playbook by embracing their set-piece wizardry as he plots for World Cup glory in the States. The meticulous methods honed at the Emirates have yielded incredible results, and it's no surprise Tuchel wants to replicate that success with his own team – especially given the number of Gunners-turned-Three Lions who'll be gunning for the title.
Tuchel is hell-bent on making set-pieces a decisive factor in the tournament. Recent training sessions have seen the squad honing their skills, maximising every opportunity from corners and free-kicks. It's clear that Tuchel wants his team to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to dead-ball situations – and he's got the players to make it happen.
Declan Rice is already a set-piece specialist, having terrorised opponents for Arsenal with his pinpoint accuracy from corners. Reece James, another Chelsea ace, has also caught Tuchel's eye with his dead-ball prowess. Despite ongoing fitness concerns, Bukayo Saka remains an asset in this department – and Tuchel intends to unleash him on the opposition.
The England squad boasts a towering presence that gives them a significant aerial threat. With only two of the ten outfield starters under 6ft tall in their recent match against Costa Rica, it's clear they're built for set-piece duty. Tuchel has made no secret of his desire to make England a top-notch set-piece team – and he'll stop at nothing to achieve that goal.
But there's a catch: adapting to the new rules surrounding blocking fouls will be crucial. Gone are the days of using blockers to create space – VAR now disallows goals if fouls are committed before the ball is in play. That means England must get creative, experimenting with new techniques like positioning players behind markers for back-post crosses. Recent friendlies against New Zealand have seen them try just that, and it's led to some impressive results – including unmarked headers for John Stones and Dan Burn.