Thomas Tuchel, the new manager of the England national football team, aims to restore excitement and hunger to the squad as they embark on the journey toward next year's World Cup. As he prepares to lead the team for the first time, facing Albania in a sold-out Wembley qualifier on March 21, 2025, Tuchel has expressed concerns over the team's mentality during last summer's European Championship.
Reflecting on England's previous campaign, Tuchel noted that the players seemed more fearful of elimination than eager to secure victory. He described this situation as inhibiting, stating, "they were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it." This sentiment underscores his desire for a culture shift within the team, encouraging players to focus on joy and freedom rather than fear.
In a pre-match press conference, Tuchel explained, “I want us to play with the excitement, the hunger and the desire to win – and the joy to win, and the acceptance of failure is a part of it, especially in football.” He emphasized that the team must implement a sense of togetherness and joy, ensuring that every player feels safe to express their best selves on the pitch.
The Football Association has entrusted Tuchel with the task of guiding England to success after former manager Gareth Southgate led the team to several notable achievements, including a World Cup semi-final in 2018, another in 2022, and reaching back-to-back Euro finals in 2021 and 2024. However, despite these accolades, Tuchel believes that the squad did not fully capitalize on their potential during the last tournament.
Tuchel stated that his approach would not be fixated on past failures but would instead focus on the current squad and the future. He shared his perspective on the previous Euro campaign, saying, “The players know my assessment (of the Euros) but it’s not even addressed backwards. It’s addressed ‘what I want now’ and ‘where I think we can improve.'”
The former Chelsea manager pointedly remarked on the team's need for identity and clarity on the field, explaining, “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, and the expression of players” were missing in their last performance. His goal is to change that narrative and instill a new sense of purpose into the group.
Before the critical match against Albania, Tuchel and his squad completed their final training session at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground. The sense of anticipation is palpable, as fans await the kickoff of the World Cup qualification campaign. Tuchel noted, “We have a full Wembley, it will be very exciting,” and admitted to feeling a bit nervous ahead of the match. “I will be a bit nervous, I guess and that’s part of it. I’m always a bit nervous before matches, so this will not be different.”
Tuchel acknowledged the historical context of the national team, humorously referencing the famous 1966 World Cup victory as the only major trophy won by England. He remarked, “The tradition for the national team is not to win,” implying the need for the players to recognize their underdog status as they prepare for the competition in America next year.
He conveyed that embracing this underdog role could help shift perceptions about the team’s potential, reminding the players that, despite their talent and experience from the English Premier League, they can't assume automatic favoring in international tournaments. “There is no rule that we cannot make it from the role of an underdog. This can maybe help us to change the perception a little bit,” he added. The remarks summarize a motivating outlook that could spur players to adopt a more confident mindset.
As Tuchel charts his course for the national team, it becomes clear that his focus is on cultivating a group characterized by resilience, unity, and an unquenchable thirst for victory. The upcoming qualifiers against Albania and Latvia will serve as initial tests of this newly proposed philosophy.
Fans and pundits alike eagerly await to witness how Tuchel's leadership will translate into results on the pitch. With a rising star given the helm and a squad ready to shed past inhibitions, the prospects for the England national team under Tuchel seem particularly promising.
