Thomas Tuchel's hoodie at England training only looked out of place if it was treated like ordinary winter gear.
In the American summer, England is trying to fight the heat before matches even begin.
Tuchel's training gear is part of that wider plan.
The sight of Tuchel covered up while England players trained in vests drew attention, but the explanation is practical rather than fashionable.
"He was seen wearing a hoodie while the players were wearing vests. Turns out that sun-protection hoodies are the latest bit of technology that England are using to stay cool in the hot temperatures. The technology is meant to work with the tops filtering harsh UV rays to protect the skin from the sun while the top also uses technology to keep your skin cool and dry. The England players are also using palm-cooling devices and cooling jackets."
England have been preparing for this for weeks. They flew to Miami on June 1 for their pre-tournament camp, then moved into their Kansas City base around June 13, meaning they had about 20 days in the United States by June 21 and roughly eight days at their tournament base.
Their base has been humid and changeable. Kansas City is forecast to move from the mid-70s into the high 80s this week, with England training under direct Missouri sun.
Their opener against Croatia came in Arlington, where the outside high was around 92 degrees, though Dallas Stadium's air conditioning softened that problem. Ghana in Foxborough is forecast around 74 degrees near kickoff, while Panama in East Rutherford could be closer to 85 at the start.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Palm-cooling devices target blood vessels in the hands to help players cool between bursts. Cooling jackets and misting stations aim to lower skin and core temperature during recovery windows. UV hoodies reduce direct sun exposure for staff spending long periods outside.
Studies on soccer-specific cooling vests suggest they may lower physiological and perceived strain, even if they do not automatically improve repeated sprint output. In tournament football, that still matters.
A player who feels fresher at halftime, recovers quicker after training, or manages heat stress better in the final 20 minutes has a small edge.
Tuchel has already admitted England are not naturally used to this heat and humidity, but he has also insisted it cannot become an excuse. The hoodie is not a gimmick. It is a visible sign that England are chasing every marginal gain before the weather can take one away.
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