New Delhi: England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged FIFA to reconsider its pre-match cameraman protocols after a swarm of lensmen completely blocked his view of his players during the national anthems ahead of England’s match against Croatia early Thursday.
The game marked the Germans’ tournament debut on the touchline as the Three Lions secured a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia at the Dallas Stadium. However, despite a dream start on the pitch, Tuchel cut a frustrated figure during the pre-match ceremony.
“I’m begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers, because I could not see my team [during] the national anthem, and I was waiting for this moment,” Tuchel told reporters after the game. “It was a very, very special moment today, and I was standing in front of 50 photographers half a meter away, and I could not see one single player. It ruined a little bit of my experience today.”
Pitch-side cameras captured a visibly agitated Tuchel gesturing at the brimming line of photographers stationed directly in front of the technical area as his players and fans sang “God Save The King” in unison. The Three Lions’ coach finally had to watch the ceremony on the stadium’s giant screens.
“It is very emotional,” Tuchel explained later. “When I was young and when I started coaching, this was too big to dream of this kind of occasion.”
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FIFA’s response
The chaos that unfolded at the Dallas Stadium stems from tournament rules that permit photographers on the touchline for anthems. The unique stadium layout in Dallas—where the pitch is slightly elevated—added to the problem of visibility from the sidelines.
Responding swiftly to the England manager’s grievance, FIFA has reportedly tweaked its guidelines. Moving forward, photographers will be huddled closer together on one side, with coaches given the option to stand on the other side. In fact, the revised policy was in evidence during last night’s 1-1 draw between Czechia and South Africa.
The Three Lions didn’t let the pre-match distraction affect them. Captain and star forward Harry Kane struck a brace to equal Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England, while second-half strikes from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the crucial three points for Tuchel’s men.
England next face Ghana in Boston on June 24, where they will look to consolidate their pursuit of a knockout berth in the tournament.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)