England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, has labeled his team as underdogs for the upcoming World Cup, emphasizing the importance of not carrying the pressure of being seen as favorites. The team is striving to break a 59-year drought without a major trophy, despite previous achievements such as reaching a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals under their former manager, Gareth Southgate.
“We will enter the World Cup as underdogs due to our prolonged absence from winning the tournament, facing off against nations that have claimed victory multiple times during this period,” Tuchel shared with the media before the friendly with Wales. He highlighted the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and France as recent champions, contrasting England’s lengthy title drought.
Tuchel stressed the team’s focus on progression and the clear understanding of their role in the competition. The coach emphasized the importance of qualifying first and then setting ambitious objectives while maintaining a realistic perspective. He expressed the need to build a cohesive team gradually, rather than relying solely on individual talents.
For the upcoming fixtures against Wales and Latvia, Tuchel opted to retain the squad from their recent victories in Group K, excluding Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. Emphasizing the team’s collective effort over individual talent, the German coach highlighted the significance of teamwork in winning trophies.
England has an opportunity to secure their World Cup qualification as group winners with a victory in Latvia on October 14, coupled with specific results in the match between Serbia and Albania. Tuchel’s approach focuses on team development and strategic planning to maximize their chances in the competition.