“Where to draw the line is the question I ask. Where does this end now?
“It’s my question, I don’t have an answer,” the German added.
Related
‘Trying to kill me’
Tuchel’s compatriot Jurgen Klopp, who is in line to become the next coach of Germany, did not mince his words.
“This is our game, not theirs… If Trump and Infantino really worked this all out between themselves, that’s crazy. It calls everything into question…
“These two individuals, neither of whom has a clue about football, shouldn’t have anything to do with it,” the 59-year-old added.
The stakes in Monday’s game are huge for the co-hosts. Playing on home soil, a strong US start to the tournament has raised expectations to fever-pitch levels among the American public.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are targeting a historic run to at least the quarter-finals, which they have not reached since 2002.
In the first game on Monday, European champions Spain face neighbours Portugal in Dallas for a place in the last eight.
On Sunday, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo came out fighting against critics he said had been “trying to kill me for the past 23 years”.
Ronaldo, 41, admitted he was not the player he used to be, but said “I am not doing too bad”, pointing to the three goals he has scored at the tournament.
Relishing taking on journalists eager to ask about his future and the harsh spotlight on him, Ronaldo told reporters: “It’s been like this since I was 18, it is not going to change.”
Spain started the World Cup sluggishly but found their form in breezing past Austria 3-0 in the last 32 and their own superstar, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, is ready to showcase his precocious talents, coach Luis de la Fuente said.
“He likes to be the focus, he likes the responsibility, he likes to take the initiative,” said de la Fuente.
