Harry Kane: Thomas Tuchel told us to ‘take the shackles off’ at half-time

Tuchel was unhappy at the interval, describing the first half as “complicated”, and told his players he would prefer to play their own way and lose rather than repeat the first 45 minutes.

England's Harry Kane following the FIFA World Cup Group L match. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire.

England captain Harry Kane revealed boss Thomas Tuchel told his side to “take the shackles off” at half-time of their World Cup opener against Croatia.

Kane’s first-half double, which saw him equal Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England, twice put them in front in Dallas, only for Croatia to hit back on both occasions after some questionable defending.