After England’s lackluster Florida friendly against New Zealand in Tampa, the Three Lions had a much better showing in their final World Cup tune-up against Costa Rica on Wednesday night in Orlando.
They even got to test their patience with North America’s tumultuous summer weather.
After short, intense thundershowers delayed kickoff by about an hour, England eased to a 3-0 victory over the Ticos on an early Declan Rice goal, followed by tallies after halftime from Anthony Gordon (penalty) and Ollie Watkins.
“I think we set the tone today in the meeting and the players were ready to follow, to have the next step in intensity and the way we play, to push ourselves and get a good feeling out of it, which we absolutely did,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said, per Sky Sports.
England, who are most oddsmakers’ third-favorite World Cup side behind France and Spain, earned only a 1-0 win in their previous fixture against New Zealand, in which Harry Kane scored in first-half stoppage time.
Weather delays are rare in major soccer tournaments globally, often played in jurisdictions with less frequent severe weather and less stringent regulations about playing during it.
For example, a Euro 2024 match between hosts Germany and Denmark proceeded until there was obvious thunder in the immediate vicinity, and then play was halted for only 22 minutes.
In the United States, where severe summer weather is more common, MLS matches are halted when there is a lightning strike within 8 miles of a stadium and cannot continue until 30 minutes following the most recent strike.
Those practices were also followed at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, where six of the tournament’s 63 games were delayed or suspended due to inclement conditions.
“In hindsight, it was good for us to have a bit of a delay, so we could even adapt to that and see if it affects us,” Tuchel said. “The group was amazing. We were not distracted, we didn’t lose our focus, and we had an excellent and determined performance from start to finish.”
Weather won’t be a concern in England’s Group L opener against Croatia next Wednesday, played in a climate-controlled venue in Arlington, Texas. Their second and third matches in Foxborough, Mass., and East Rutherford, N.J. will be subject to the elements.
The winner of Group L will play their round-of-32 match indoors in Atlanta, while the runner-up will head to Toronto, another outdoor venue.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
