LONDON : For the fans who grimaced their way through England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, new head coach Thomas Tuchel’s pledge on Thursday that his team will focus on the joy of winning and not the fear of losing will be music to their ears.
German Tuchel takes charge of his first game on Friday as England host Albania at Wembley in their opening World Cup qualifier – the first step in a journey the Football Association hope will lead to glory in the United States.
England reached their second successive European Championship final last year in Germany but it was anything but a barnstorming run with timid displays against the likes of Denmark, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Tuchel was reminded about comments he made while working as a pundit at Euro 2024 in which he said Gareth Southgate’s England were shackled by pressure.
“It was my feeling, was my feedback in front of TV long before I thought I would be in charge,” the former Chelsea manager told reporters before taking the final training session at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground.
“I think it has to be the other way around. I want us to play with excitement and hunger and the desire to win and the joy to win and the acceptance of failure is part of it.
“I want players to feel safe to express themselves and play with joy to win, not the fear to lose.”
Asked if the England shirt weighed heavily on a squad full of regular trophy winners, a relaxed Tuchel injected humour, displaying his linguistic expertise.
“I heard that’s it’s a heavy shirt, but it’s in fact not, it’s a high quality shirt that will weight less when we come to America that adapts to the climate there,” he said.
“So it’s not heavy in reality, but of course I know what the players mean. But watching the Euros, yeah I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players.
“I think they were playing not to lose rather than with the excitement to make something special.”
CRASH COURSE
Tuchel, whose 18-month contract began in January, admitted the week had been a crash course in international management.
“For me it’s how to adapt to the rhythm and to being together with the squad for only 10 days but only to have maybe three full training sessions to prepare matches,” he said.
“But they reminded me instantly in the first meeting, the first lunch and first training session why I was so excited.”
Tuchel is the fifth England coach for captain Harry Kane and the striker admitted he was initially surprised that his former Bayern Munich manager had been chosen.
“I didn’t expect, especially as a national team coach,” Kane, who scored 44 goals for Bayern under Tuchel last season, told reporters. “But once it was announced I was really excited because I knew what he could bring to this squad that we have.
“He brings more energy and enthusiasm to the meetings and passion when he’s talking. The boys have been impressed with him and now we’re excited to start the next chapter with him.”
Tuchel said he wants an emotional and active team who play in the style of a Premier League team.
“We play for England, we are not Argentina, we’re not Spain,” he said. “We can adapt but the DNA is clearly English, which means it’s physical and tough and ready to fight.”
