Even after a 2-0 win against Albania to begin his tenure as England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel said that his side still has to improve, citing the performance of Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford specifically. The two, who started on the wings, were substituted after not being able to capitalize on their opportunities and were unable to make a significant impact.
Providing a candid analysis of his first game in charge, Tuchel identified a lack of discipline in the second half and was disappointed with the wide players. “We want more influence in these roles,” he said. “More dribbling and more forward runs into the box. Overall, that was lacking. The opportunities come from the small runs behind the line. They were not as clear-cut as they can be.”
Tuchel also wondered whether Foden is not confident when playing for England. “We will instill him to do what he can do best, to attack defenders, to attack into dribbles,” the German manager said. “Both of our wingers who played were not as effective as they can be in club football. I’m not quite sure why we were having trouble getting the ball quickly to them.”.
We didn’t get runs off the ball. A bit too much passing, too little dribbling, not aggressive enough to the goal. They trained well, they were decisive in training. That’s why I also believe that they deserved [to start], they played well in the last weeks for their clubs. We will continue to motivate them.
England’s quest for qualification to the 2026 World Cup started on a high note with a debut goal by Myles Lewis-Skelly and a late goal by Harry Kane. The 18-year-old left-back’s standout performance was one of the positives of the game. “Amazing player, amazing personality,” said Tuchel. “He arrived in camp and immediately made it okay to fall in love with him.”. It is richly deserved. He’s brimming with courage, full of quality.”
Tuchel remains determined to win the World Cup, even after a win. He made it clear that for that to happen, England must improve. During halftime, he reviewed the game and observed that the players lost confidence in their formation, which exposed them to counterattacks. He said, “I need to watch the game and look for solutions.”
Tuchel’s emphasis on discipline, more aggressive intent, and improvement will likely be dominant themes in his approach as England makes their way through their qualifying tournament. While Lewis-Skelly’s debut gave a glimpse of what to expect, if England is to dominate the world, the performances of more experienced players such as Rashford and Foden need to be better.
