Former England manager Fabio Capello has issued a stark warning to current head coach Thomas Tuchel, stating that England must overcome their tendency to "play with fear" if they hope to win the upcoming World Cup.
Capello, who led England from 2007 to 2012, pointed to his own experience at the 2010 World Cup where England scored just three goals in four matches before being eliminated in the last 16. He attributed that performance to player fatigue and a psychological barrier that continues to haunt the national team.
"This is the problem for England. They are tired and they fear. The manager, he has to cancel these two things," Capello told BBC Sport.
The Italian specifically referenced England's performance in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, where they took an early lead but ultimately drew 1-1 before losing on penalties.
"I remember the game against Italy. They are winning after 10-15 minutes and after they don't play. They play with fear," Capello said.
Despite England's impressive qualification campaign under Tuchel, where they achieved a perfect record, recent friendly results have raised concerns. The team drew 1-1 with Uruguay and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Japan last month, highlighting potential issues ahead of the tournament.
The World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, giving Tuchel limited time to address Capello's concerns before England's campaign begins.