A German…coaching England? Those unhinged Brits are freaking out at the moment. The more rational and mild-mannered Brits are quietly applauding. Why wouldn’t they? Thomas Tuchel took London-based club Chelsea to a Champions League Final victory in 2021. He took PSG to their only Champions League Final ever a year earlier.
Tuchel has coached Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.
Tuchel is getting this job because he finished third last season with Bayern Munich and lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. He’s using this job to rehabilitate his club career, and like Poch for the USA, he’ll likely be gone after the 2026 World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel and His Tactics
Thomas Tuchel has coached highly talented and high-ego players such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Manuel Neuer. Personality-wise, Tuchel has a vested interest in getting along with all of England’s talented players. Tuchel needs this job to work and avoid any major dust-ups. I believe any concerns over Tuchel’s personality clashing with England’s finest are overblown.
Thomas Tuchel’s tactical fit with England couldn’t be more perfect. Tuchel is tactically flexible and has used a variety of formations throughout his club career.
One of the main tenets of a Tuchel system is playing through two attacking midfielders, also known as having two number 10s. There will be debate about which two attacking midfielders should start. There shouldn’t.
Based on form for their club and playing for the national team, it should be Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham and Palmer play with talented players for their club and know how not to get out of other players’ way.
Tuchel’s system also takes advantage of wing-backs. Bukayo Saka has been primarily used on the wing in his career but started as a left-back. Saka could be unleashed as a wing-back for England. Tuchel will also try and get a tune out of Kyle Walker and could look to bring in other wing-back candidates.
Declan Rice will be huge in Tuchel’s system. He will be asked to dictate the tempo of play and break up attacks in defense. He is a leader for both club and country, However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tuchel uses Adam Wharton in the number six role against less-talented European sides.
Does it Matter that Tuchel Isn’t English?
I’m not British. I’ve never been to England. I was born in the US and have lived here my entire life. Since I’ve been alive, the US Men’s National Soccer team has had two coaches who aren’t American. I’ve always seen it as a positive that someone from another country would want to coach our national side.
The US Women’s side recruited the best coach in the world to lead their program, Emma Hayes. Hayes is British and led the US to Gold at the Summer Olympics. Not a single person cared where she came from, she was the best, and as a country, you should want the best.
However, for the English team, the culture of football in England has a certain pride and tradition. Many see Tuchel not as a bad hire, but as a bad idea. After eight years of an English manager who led them to two finals and a semi-final, many see Tuchel as a quick-hired gun to try and win a tournament for England.
It can be both a failure of the England Football Association and the coaching association to develop a suitable replacement for Gareth Southgate. And a solid hire by the FA to bring in a winner such as Tuchel.
I don’t think there is a current, great supply of English coaches in the world right now. Look no further than the Premier League table. In the last two seasons, only one team (Newcastle United) has finished in the top 10 with an English manager in both seasons.
Conclusion
Thomas Tuchel is brought in to win the World Cup in 2026. Anything less will be viewed as a failure. Tuchel knows this and views this job as the best way to reignite his reputation. If England can play attractive football and make a run in the World Cup, then Tuchel will be coaching another big club.
The most fascinating part of the appointment is who he starts, benches, and brings onto the roster. England fans are now going to get an outside perspective of who he rates versus who he doesn’t.
Tuchel is a great coach, and England are a top-three most talented International side. This doesn’t mean they’ll win the World Cup, but hiring Tuchel places them in a great position to do so.
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