After a flawless qualification, England is heading to the 2026 World Cup with high hopes. Coach Thomas Tuchel still has problems.
Team manager Thomas Tuchel made history with England, and that is really saying something in the “motherland of football”. The “Three Lions” achieved the first perfect World Cup qualification by a European team.
Kane: “One of the favorites”
Thanks to a brace from Bayern striker Harry Kane, the team won 2-0 in Albania, it was their eighth clean sheet win in their eighth game. Never before had a European nation gone through all games of a World Cup qualifying campaign that consisted of at least six games without losing a point or conceding a goal. There was already a 2-0 win against Serbia on Thursday. England’s goal difference at the end – 22:0. “Now we’re going into the tournament as one of the favorites, we have to accept that”said Kane.
A doable group won lackluster
But the truth is that the opponents in Group K were certainly in the “unpleasant” category, but not exactly the first guard of European football. In addition to Serbia and Albania, Latvia and Andorra were also there.
And the English victories often had a flaw. Afterwards you could read about “work victory” or “compulsory victory” and words like “lackluster” or “boring” were also used, and no one in England likes to read that in connection with the national team.
But for Tuchel, football is above all a result-based sport. He is considered a clever tactician, he is pragmatic and he has discussed his playing style with his colleague Pep Guardiola over a meal together with the help of salt and pepper shakers.
In the meantime harsh criticism
And one shouldn’t forget that Tuchel made history back in June. The English national team lost against an African team for the first time ever – 3-1 at home against Senegal.
The criticism was devastating. “Thomas Tuchel can forget about putting a second star on England’s jersey”wrote the “Sun”: “Blasted by Senegal. The Three Lions flops are booed off the pitch after a humiliating defeat for Thomas Tuchel and a shameful performance.”
The “Daily Star” declared after the first defeat under his direction “Tuchel’s honeymoon” for it to be over and the “Daily Mail” followed up: “England is embarrassed. The Three Lions as world champions in 2026, that sounds like a bad joke. The problems are deep and big and obvious”
By the way, Tuchel sees it completely differently. Finally, he said that his team had “stylishly qualified, with a good performance and excellent results”. That’s partly true, but in England a poor 1-0 in Andorra or a 1-3 in a friendly are more worth talking about than a 5-0 win in Serbia.
Tuchel has to tame Bellingham
The press on the island has now calmed down, but Tuchel still has problems. His tallest is called Jude Bellingham. After being substituted in Albania, the Real Madrid midfielder was pissed off. He had been replaced by Morgan Rogers six minutes before the end of the game and had expressed his displeasure. “I saw that he wasn’t happy”said Tuchel, but he would not change his decisions, “just because someone is waving their arms”.
Dissatisfied: Jude Bellingham
Tuchel would like a rethink in his protégé’s mind: “His friend is waiting on the sidelines, so you have to accept that, respect that and move on.” He does want to “don’t make it anymore”but stand by his word: “Respect for the teammates coming in is essential.”
Tuchel had skipped Bellingham for the international matches in October and thus caused a stir. Because he was fit after recovering from shoulder problems. In addition, Tuchel recently did not guarantee Bellingham a regular place in the attacking midfield. The 52-year-old said he had to earn his place like everyone else. Recently, Rogers from Aston Villa did very well in Bellingham’s absence.
England is only strong as a unit
Tuchel’s main task will be to mold his team full of superstars into a unit. It remains to be seen whether he can write great football history against top-class opponents at the World Cup.