"They are fuelled by history, it means a lot to them," Tuchel said. "So this is what we expect and what we are up against."
"I coached some of the players, I can sense it. You can see it. They have this kind of edge. You can sense it when they're a goal down and when matches are tight. They're a tough group. They're almost the same group as four years ago. You can see the cohesion, the sacrifice that they put into it.
"They don't panic when they're behind. They believe in their style. And their style is very emotional. It was in Qatar and it is now. But we are also emotional, we have the grit, we have the mentality that it takes to go up against it. We are ready for it. This is the time to go for it. I feel another change of mood in the camp, 'Oh wow, we're getting close now'."
Stopping Lionel Messi will be central to the plan, and Tuchel pointed to England's handling of Erling Haaland as evidence they can cope.
"It is just incredible, how he (Messi) pulls it out every single time, in so many different ways. He finds spaces, he finds moments, and the big thing is that the whole team buys into that idea to support him. They are just ready when he bursts into action to make the difference. Can you prepare for that and find the recipe, and focus too much on him? No, but we need to be brave around him, we need to stop the support, and we need to take care of all the movements that happen when he's on the ball. We are totally aware that we cannot stop him all the time. He's a very different player from Erling Haaland, but we did very well in the way you maybe should play against Erling, so we will find a way now."
Much of the build-up has instead centred on Bellingham's reaction to Tuchel's criticism of England's display in Saturday's 2-1 win over Norway. Jude Bellingham, who scored both goals, was asked about the coach's comments and replied: "Maybe that means he doesn't know what it's like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, (Martin) Odegaard, (Antonio) Nusa and (Alexander) Sorloth."
He had earlier dismissed it with a one-word "whatever" in an on-pitch interview.
Tuchel said he had no issue with the response.
"I had a mediocre career, at best. But I don't think that you have to play (to be a manager). A funny quote, you don't have to be a horse to be a good jockey!
"I think our comments come from the same place from being competitive and having the edge when competition is on. He was just confronted with the negative side. I called him a world-class player. I said he had world-class actions again to decide the match. I said the mentality is outstanding of this team. So he was confronted with, 'What do you think, the coach said you were sloppy?'. I would also maybe bite back when I come from 120 minutes, scored two goals, gave literally everything that is in my body.
"It's just a very normal reaction for a player of his mindset. So no problem. I spoke to the whole team after in the dressing room, which was basically the same message. And I explained it again on Monday evening to just move on forward. Then in the talk we straight away put on a new direction, put on a new head, which is the semi-final and Argentina."
Tuchel has a near-full squad, with only Jordan Henderson, whose tournament has ended, missing training this week. Bukayo Saka could come in for Noni Madueke as the only likely change, with Declan Rice available again after illness.