Timnas Inggris Menumbangkan Kosta Rika Tiga Gol Tanpa Balas

Tim nasional Inggris memetik kemenangan telak 3-0 atas Kosta Rika dalam pertandingan uji coba menjelang Piala Dunia 2026 yang berlangsung di Orlando, Amerika Serikat pada Rabu, 10 Juni 2026 waktu setempat.

Kemenangan meyakinkan skuad Tiga Singa tersebut dipastikan lewat sumbangan gol dari Anthony Gordon dan Ollie Watkins setelah jadwal laga sempat tertunda akibat cuaca ekstrem.

Gelandang timnas Inggris Declan Rice menyatakan bahwa manajer tim terus mendorong para pemain untuk meningkatkan performa di lapangan.

"The manager was onto us to ramp it up … intensity with the ball … counter-pressing … the performance tonight was top from everyone … really good last game before it all starts … the first week, ten days has been adapting to the heat … we’re building confidence and fitness … we’re going to keep building … really good." kata Declan Rice kepada ITV.

Pemain depan Inggris Anthony Gordon turut mengekspresikan kesenangannya setelah berhasil mengeksekusi tendangan penalti dalam tekanan pertandingan.

"There’s always pressure when you are playing for England … if you can’t deal with that, you’re at the wrong level … I love penalties … I love the pressure of them … glad to see that one go in." tambah Anthony Gordon.

Di samping itu, seorang penulis bernama Ian Copestake memberikan komentar mengenai lagu dukungan untuk timnas Inggris saat jeda babak pertama.

"I’ve no idea how to make something go viral," mulai Ian Copestake. "I have certainly failed with my own book! But I thought Tim Vine’s catchy England World Cup song deserves an airing."

Manajer tim nasional Inggris Thomas Tuchel menilai penundaan jadwal akibat hujan deras justru memberikan dampak positif terhadap kesiapan mental anak asuhnya.

"It gives us a little bit of taste of what can happen in the tournament … we were aware of that before … now we experience it, it’s no problem … should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or hunger to play the game … no problem at all." kata Thomas Tuchel kepada ITV.

Tuchel juga memuji kualitas sistem drainase stadion yang membuat permukaan lapangan tetap layak digunakan meski sempat diguyur air dalam volume besar.

"The pitch seemed surprisingly dry for the amount of water that came down … they know what they are doing … it seems good to play." ujar Thomas Tuchel.

Kondisi fisik serta proses aklimatisasi cuaca para pemain di Orlando juga menunjukkan grafik peningkatan berdasarkan hasil pemeriksaan tim medis.

"We can see we have made progress when we checked the blood and sweat of the players … acclimatisation is there … we are getting fitter and fitter … now it is on the team to put a good performance." tutur Thomas Tuchel.

Laga ini menjadi momen pertama bagi Tuchel untuk menguji coba kombinasi beberapa pemain pilarnya secara bersamaan sejak awal pertandingan.

"It’s a very strong line-up … we have very strong players on the bench … we are taking the next step … pushing the boundaries … stepping up intensity … off the ball and with the ball … see what we are able to produce … it is the first time [Jude Bellingham] has played with Harry [Kane], Declan [Rice] and Elliot [Anderson] together, so it’s a good test of concept." pungkas Thomas Tuchel.