Tuchel made his remarks following England’s 4-2 win against Croatia, which was his inaugural match as head coach at a FIFA World Cup.
The German manager expressed visible frustration before the game as photographers crowded directly in front of the benches while “God Save the King” was played, blocking his view of the players on the field.
Despite his attempts to signal for the photographers to relocate, Tuchel ended up watching the anthem on the stadium’s large screen along with his coaching staff.
“I am urging FIFA to adjust the positioning of the photographers, as I was unable to see my team during the national anthem, and I was looking forward to this moment,” Tuchel stated post-match.
“It was a truly special moment, and I found myself standing in front of 50 photographers just half a meter away, unable to see a single player. It slightly tainted my experience today.”
Nonetheless, the situation had minimal impact on England’s performance, as Tuchel commenced his World Cup journey with a victory over Croatia, securing three crucial points in the group stage.
While he was satisfied with the outcome, the England manager acknowledged that the pre-match experience did not align with his expectations for such a significant milestone in his coaching career.
