Fabio Capello tempers England's World Cup hopes under two months from kick-off

Thomas Tuchel is the man tasked with ending England's 60-year wait for a major trophy -Credit:Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

This places a considerable burden on players, and Capello argues that England's stars have consistently arrived at major tournaments fatigued, with their minutes and workloads frequently far exceeding those of their European counterparts.

Speaking to the BBC about England's chances, the Italian said: "Always the same, England arrive at the World Cup tired and they play with fear," via The Mirror.

His remarks regarding fear were directed at England's style of play, which has long attracted criticism for being overly cautious. He pointed to their approach in the Euro 2020 final, where Luke Shaw put them 1-0 up inside the opening minute, only for England to retreat into a largely defensive shape, inviting Italy forward before conceding the equalizer and ultimately losing on penalties.

"I remember the game against Italy and then after 10, 15 minutes they stopped playing," said Capello, who urged Thomas Tuchel to change that approach. "Long balls and they played with fear. This is the problem for England - it's tiring and fear. The manager, he has to cancel it."

England have not tasted major tournament glory since 1966, yet have come agonisingly close on several recent occasions. Defeat in the Euro 2024 final made them the first nation to suffer back-to-back losses in the tournament's final.

They enter the World Cup on the back of a commanding qualifying campaign and have been drawn alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Talisman Harry Kane will arrive at the tournament having just enjoyed the most prolific goalscoring season of his career, with Bayern Munich still chasing a treble.