Summary:
- England’s new head coach Thomas Tuchel believes the team has the potential to win the World Cup in 2026.
- Under ex-coach Gareth Southgate, they finished runners-up in successive European Championships and reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
- FA chief executive officer Mark Bullingham has defended the length of Tuchel’s 18-month contract.
Thomas Tuchel, England’s newly appointed head coach, is confident he can push the team to reach new heights in their pursuit of winning the 2026 World Cup.
Assigned on an 18-month contract starting in January 2025, Tuchel’s mission is to end England’s 60-year wait for a major international trophy in the United States.
Under former coach Gareth Southgate, England came close, finishing runners-up in successive European Championships and reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Tuchel, “Absolutely Convinced” of Their “Sixth Gear”
Tuchel believes Southgate has left a strong foundation but insists there is more potential to unlock.
When asked if England has another level to reach, Tuchel confidently replied,
Maybe even a sixth gear. Let’s see where we are going. I think we have that. I am absolutely convinced that we have that.
Tuchel emphasized the talent and character within the squad and expressed excitement to start working with the players in March.
His primary focus will be preparing the team to win the World Cup, with no long-term commitment beyond that.
The Football Association (FA) has taken a more short-term approach, in contrast to the four-year deal offered to Southgate in 2016.
Tuchel’s contract, worth £5 million a year, reflects a clear focus on the World Cup goal.
Despite the shorter contract, Tuchel is open about the challenges ahead, stating,
The target is to win the World Cup, so I don’t know if it is a failure [if we don’t]. If we miss the target then we would have to talk about why we missed it.
He added that the team would be judged on their performance, with decisions about his future made after the tournament.
Group Dynamics Before Individual Talent
Tuchel also addressed the age-old debate of selecting the best players versus forming the best team.
His predecessor frequently faced criticism for his loyalty to certain players but defended his choices, explaining that his focus was on building a cohesive team unit.
The new head coach hinted at prioritizing group dynamics over individual talent, saying,
The most important thing is to have the right group of players. We will maybe not choose the 26 best individual players, but the best group that supports each other and builds a certain atmosphere.
Tuches went on to say “the most successful teams almost play without ego”, something he envisions as “the core” of their “new nomination process“.
Having already enjoyed success in English football, including winning the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea, Tuchel is eager to return to the English game and immerse himself in the culture once again.
He praised the “humour” and “attitude” of English fans, stating that their expectations help shape the character of the players.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham defended the decision to offer Tuchel a shorter contract, emphasizing focus on the World Cup.
Thomas was really clear at the beginning he was signing up for 18 months with the sole goal of doing as well as possible in the men’s World Cup
This approach, according to Bullingham, ensures that all attention is on the upcoming tournament.
Tuchel, who will be based in England with occasional visits to his family in Germany, is eager to fully immerse himself in all that his new adopted country has to offer.
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