Former England lead physical performance coach Dr Ben Rosenblatt believes meticulous planning, smart decision-making and maintaining composure will be crucial if Thomas Tuchel’s side are to conquer what is being described as the most demanding World Cup in history.
With long-distance travel, time-zone changes, extreme temperatures and humidity expected to test every team, Rosenblatt insists success will come down to preparation and adaptability rather than talent alone.
England arrived in the United States on Monday to begin the final phase of their World Cup preparations, setting up camp in Florida before friendly matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Tuchel’s squad will then continue their tournament build-up at their base in Kansas City as they prepare for a competition unlike any previous edition.
Rosenblatt, who worked under Gareth Southgate from 2016 to 2023, believes every major tournament presents its own challenges.
“I think if you take the perspective it’s going to be really hard, then it is,” Rosenblatt told the Press Association.
“When I was there, it was always very much, ‘These are the problems to solve’.
“I think fundamentally each tournament has had its real uniqueness.”
Reflecting on previous World Cups, he highlighted the difficulties England faced in both Russia and Qatar.
“We had nine days to prepare for Qatar [2022], which is from a physical performance perspective really challenging, and then there was obviously heat acclimation as well.
“Russia [2018] was brilliant because of the amount of time we had to prepare, but there was also an enormous amount of travel.
“You were sometimes getting back at 6.30, 7 in the morning and then trying to get some food into the lads. They’re eating chicken goujons at 6.30 a.m.
“All of them have got their uniqueness and I think it’s the team who stays calm and prepares the best, obviously with the right players, that can give you the best opportunity for success.”
This year’s World Cup is expected to be the hottest since the United States hosted the tournament in 1994.
According to Rosenblatt, managing players’ thermal load and helping them adapt quickly to uncomfortable conditions will be essential.
“You’d be surprised how quickly a human body adapts,” he said.
The performance expert explained that players often respond differently to extreme weather conditions.
“It’s really easy in a team sport to paint the picture of ‘the team will struggle.’ Inevitably you might have five or six players who are going to absolutely thrive in that environment.
“You’re going to have five or six, maybe less usually, two or three, who are like, it’s a disaster and it’s really hard and could even be dangerous in some ways.
“Then you’ve got the middle, who will just kind of go one way or the other, based on your preparation.”
Rosenblatt stressed that identifying how individual players react to challenging conditions could make a significant difference during the tournament.
“It’s about understanding who those players are, what are they going to respond to and making sure you take care of the middle group by doing everything possible to help them adjust, and you’re really watching out for those outliers.
“Then fundamentally it’s about good decision-making around that as well, like how often they’re playing, what training’s like, how they’re recovering.”
England’s decision to establish a permanent base in Kansas City rather than frequently relocating could also prove beneficial.
Rosenblatt believes having a consistent environment helps maintain team unity and reduces unnecessary fatigue caused by constant travel.
“Fundamentally they would have taken a judgment that the environment and conditions that they can set up in their camp and the feeling of coming home every time feels better than constantly [moving],” he said.
“The other one, when you’ve constantly got different hubs, you have to set that up every single time, so by travelling every time there’s a level of exhaustion that takes place as well.”
As England continue preparations under Tuchel, Rosenblatt’s message is clear: success at the World Cup may depend as much on preparation and adaptability as it does on performances on the pitch.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
