Thomas Tuchel, the newly appointed England manager, is set to take charge of the team for the first time in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley. Tuchel, who was appointed over five months ago, is under no illusions about his objective with England, stating that his goal is to bring home the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
“I think we should be brave enough to play like an England squad and should not try to copy other nations’ styles too much,” Tuchel said, emphasizing his desire to tap into the “DNA” of English football. “The Premier League is a very physically demanding league, is a very direct league.”
Tuchel’s first squad announcement contained several surprises, including the return of Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford, who had been sidelined in the latter stages of Gareth Southgate’s era and under interim boss Lee Carsley. Dan Burn, a 32-year-old Newcastle defender, also received his first call-up.
Tuchel believes that experience will be crucial in England’s pursuit of World Cup glory. “He’s a serial winner—his personality, character. He is the glue in every team where he played, and he will be the glue that makes things special,” Tuchel said of Henderson.
Tuchel is aware of the challenges that lie ahead, particularly with several key players injured, including John Stones, Harry Maguire, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Ollie Watkins. However, he remains optimistic about England’s chances, stating that improving small details during the qualifying stage will lay the foundations for success.
“If we want to be prepared to be in the next final and to make the last step, we need to do it now in the first camp,” Tuchel said. “We only have six camps (before the World Cup), we only have 60 days, so we need to take care of every single day and make sure that we are on point. If we do this, hopefully, the last step takes care of itself.”
As Tuchel prepares for his England debut, he is well aware of the weight of expectation on his shoulders. However, with his experience and expertise, he is confident that he can lead England to World Cup.