Last October, England’s search for a manager after the exit of long-term coach Gareth Southgate came to an end. The replacement was a man known to fans of German football well: Thomas Tuchel. Already acquainted with those in the United Kingdom due to a period at the helm of Chelsea, his first great test awaits with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But what are the chances of a German leading England to victory?
Tuchel’s Record So Far
Tuchel takes the position as his first international job. Yet his resume has been stellar: Mainz, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. He left a post at Bayern Munich last year, after a successful 2022/23 campaign and a second-place Bundesliga position. As the third foreign manager after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, he arrives at a time when the England team has some of the strongest players in its history.
So far, the online betting odds have England placed at around 13/2. Brazil remain firm favourites at 6/1, with Germany at 10/1. However, these odds for England seem quite favourable. Games so far have not fallen in Tuchel’s favour, and the fans are slowly turning. This was evident after their embarrassing defeat to Senegal. While they have had three wins, these have been against mediocre to laughable opposition. A 1-0 qualifying win against Andorra inspired no one with confidence, be it fans or players.
Relationships in the Squad
He also arrives with many relationships formed and in place. Last year, Harry Kane scored a record number of goals while Tuchel was his boss at Bayern Munich. A vocal advocate of the manager, Kane is bound to have espoused his virtues to players like Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer.
Next year’s World Cup will be hosted in America, Canada and Mexico. Tuchel has already been flying to the US to scout locations in which the team can make their base and training camp. Places in Kansas and Dallas have been touted, though it could be possible that teams may have to travel. In both locations, England will have to play in heat far beyond that experienced in European leagues.
Overcoming Psychological Barriers
No one needs to go into detail regarding the psychological barriers placed on the England coach. A country that has the most famous football league in the world, with world-class club players, has a trophy cabinet void of silverware. All of this is coming off the back of one of the best-performing managers in the team’s history, who was widely respected as a coach and former player.
It is not just England’s record that hangs heavy over the team. Tuchel himself has some demons from the past he may need to exorcise, particularly his final performances at Chelsea. Despite winning the Super Cup, the Champions League, and the Club World Cup, he was dismissed in September 2022. The lacklustre start to this season is what most fans will remember, and something he must show them was a blip on an otherwise stellar resume.
