Thomas Tuchel believes England’s players were burdened by fear of the Euros—he aims to set them free

Thomas Tuchel has promised to reignite England’s attacking spirit, insisting the team must play with “excitement, hunger, and joy” instead of fear. As the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania on Friday, Tuchel is determined to erase the pressure that held them back at Euro 2024, where they finished as runners-up to Spain.

Watching from the sidelines last summer, Tuchel sensed a team paralysed by expectation. “I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players,” he admitted. “It felt like they were playing not to lose, rather than with the excitement to make something special happen.”

His mission is clear: change the mentality.

“I want us to play with excitement and hunger,” he said. “Acceptance of failure is part of football. You need togetherness and joy, where everyone feels safe to express themselves and give their very best.”

His vision was reinforced by Harry Kane, who led England’s attack at the Euros and felt the weight of expectations.

“For the first time, we were one of the favourites,” Kane admitted. “People expected us to win. We leaned on our experience from other tournaments, but we just couldn’t quite find the rhythm or energy together.”

Despite England’s near-miss in the Euro 2024 final, Tuchel believes the foundations are strong. His focus isn’t on tearing down what Gareth Southgate built but refining the details.

“We’re close,” Kane added. “Thomas knows he doesn’t have to change everything, but there are a few details that, if we get right, we have a good chance next summer.”

Tuchel believes success hinges on clarity of roles. He suggests that tactical uncertainty at the Euros—where England, like many teams, switched formations between games—left players hesitant.

“At the Euros, they weren’t free enough to express themselves in a stable structure,” Tuchel observed. “When we play now, everyone must know their role, accept it, and play with discipline. Then comes freedom. Within your space, you can look for solutions.”

That structured freedom has been the focus of his first training camp with England this week. Though short, Tuchel has been encouraged by the players’ response.

“They reminded me instantly why I was so excited about this job,” he said. “They were outstanding in how they interacted as a group and on the pitch. We had high-quality, sharp training sessions. Everybody was open to giving their best.”

However, he is also aware that international management comes with its challenges. Unlike club football, where coaches work with players daily, England will only have six training camps before the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

To bridge that gap, Tuchel is demanding constant communication between camps.

“We need to bond now, but we also need to stay connected,” he insisted. “It’s my responsibility to visit players, call them, and keep them engaged. They must also stay connected with each other. Otherwise, six camps won’t be enough to create the special atmosphere and togetherness we need.”

For Tuchel, the road to World Cup glory starts not with obsessing over the end goal, but by focusing on the process.

“Thinking about the outcome won’t help us,” he concluded. “The only thing that helps is worshipping every single day we have together.”

His England tenure begins Friday night at Wembley. It may just be a World Cup qualifier—but for Tuchel, it’s the first step in transforming England from hopefuls to champions.