"That's His Job, Isn't It?" — Roy Keane Dismisses Tuchel Hype After England's World Cup Comeback vs Croatia

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Roy Keane Dismisses ‘Over the Top’ Praise for Thomas Tuchel After England’s Dramatic World Cup Comeback vs Croatia

Roy Keane has never been one for hyperbole — and England’s 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia is no exception. While players and pundits alike praised Thomas Tuchel’s inspiring half-time team talk, the Manchester United legend was having none of it.

“That’s his job, isn’t it?” Keane fired back on ITV, dismissing what he called an “over the top” reaction to the German manager’s dressing room intervention.

How England Turned It Around

Playing in front of 70,389 fans at their opening Group L fixture, England looked in trouble at half-time. After storming to a 2-0 lead, they were pegged back to 2-2 by a resilient Croatian side. Tuchel’s team talk changed everything. England came out firing in the second half, with Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford scoring to seal a thrilling 4-2 win.

Harry Kane was full of praise for the manager: “Credit to the manager. The manager gave us a speech at halftime just to say ‘Look, if we lose, we lose in our way.’ I think you saw that in the second half, we went full gas and they could not live with it.”

Declan Rice echoed his captain, describing Tuchel’s words as a “wow” moment: “He was top at halftime, the words he used, settled everyone. I can’t say too much, it was one of those moments where you are like ‘Wow, what a top manager’.”

Keane Fires Back

But Keane, never one for sentiment, cut through the praise with typical bluntness:

“Is it a bit of an overreaction to his half-time team talk? What’s he supposed to do? That is his job isn’t it? That’s the manager’s job to give them the information and they go out and produce. That’s what any top manager will do, you get them at half-time and you remind them what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s a bit over the top.”

The Irishman drew on his own experience, adding: “Sometimes you go in at half-time and you think you’re going to get a hard time and they go easy on you, sometimes you think you’re doing well and they go hard on you. It’s what you smell in the game, what he thinks the players need.”

Tuchel’s Side of the Story

Tuchel himself played down the heroics when asked about his approach: “I said even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days. But let’s do it our way. We’re too focused on the result, too focused on protecting what we anyway don’t have at the moment.”

Whether it was a masterclass or just basic management, the result speaks for itself — three points against a tough opponent in a major tournament opener.

What’s Next for England?

England face Ghana on Tuesday, June 23 at 5 PM ET. A win would secure their spot in the round of 32. They then face Panama on Saturday to close out the group stage.

FAQ

What was the final score of England vs Croatia?

England won 4-2 after being tied 2-2 at halftime. Goals came from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, while Croatia scored twice to level before England’s second-half surge.

What did Thomas Tuchel say to the England team at halftime?

Tuchel told the players he didn’t care if they lost as long as they played “their way” and stopped protecting a result they didn’t have yet, encouraging them to take risks in the second half.

Which group is England in at the 2026 World Cup?

England is in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. The expanded 48-team tournament features groups of three, with the top two advancing to the round of 32.

When is England’s next match?

England plays Ghana on Tuesday, June 23 at 5 PM ET / 10 PM BST, followed by Panama on Saturday, June 27.

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Final Thoughts

Love him or hate him, Roy Keane has a point — Tuchel was just doing his job. But sometimes, doing your job at the highest level is exactly what gets results. England’s comeback was thrilling, and with Ghana up next, the Three Lions look like genuine contenders in this tournament.