The World Cup brings out a different version of Thomas Tuchel. Call it Tournament Thomas. Turnier Thomas if you’re feeling fancy. The England manager has been buzzing through the first week in the United States, and it’s showing in how his team plays.
England opened with a win over Croatia. Some people around the tournament called them the best team in the first round of games. That’s high praise for a squad that’s historically found ways to trip over itself on the biggest stage.
Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. He knows how to win knockout games. He’s spent 18 months preparing for his first global tournament as a national team coach. And right now, he’s loving every second of it.
“I don’t do anything extra,” he said. “It just gives me a lot of energy to be at a World Cup, to have this tournament and be in competitive mode, to be surrounded by world-class players and fantastic personalities. It energises me.”
Finding the right vibe
England managers always face the same question: how strict should you be? Fabio Capello ran a joyless camp. Sven-Goran Eriksson was almost too relaxed. Tuchel is trying to split the difference.
“I’m influencing the players, influencing the staff, so I have to be on the front foot but also not too much,” he said. “I want to have the right mix between relaxation and the smile and the arm round the shoulder and good spirit.”
That balance matters. Tuchel is a big personality. He knows he can overwhelm a room if he’s not careful. So he’s trying to project calm while keeping the competitive edge sharp. Players notice that stuff.
“I hope that they feel it because the competition is on and I want to be at my best and support them to be their best, because it’s their stage,” he added.
The Croatia test
England didn’t have a perfect game against Croatia. They conceded right before halftime. That could have sent things sideways. Instead, they responded.
“I am very happy because we found an answer to adversity,” Tuchel said. “We conceded in a very tricky moment.”
He even saw a silver lining in giving up those goals. “Defensively we dropped a little too deep from a middle block into a low block and deep block, which is, in itself, not a problem, but we went a bit too early. Maybe it is good that we conceded, because it just tells us, ‘let’s not do this again.’”
That kind of self-awareness matters in a tournament where one bad moment can unravel everything. Tuchel knows it. He lived through David Beckham’s red card in 1998 and Wayne Rooney’s in 2006 as a fan. He knows how fast things can change.
“It always can change in an instant,” Tuchel said. “You’re always just one red card away from a completely new situation.”
He didn’t want to dwell on that. “Maybe nothing is around the corner so why even put it out there?”
What’s next
England heads to Boston to face Ghana. Win that and they could lock up the group with a game left. But Tuchel isn’t worried about his guys getting cocky.
“At the moment I cannot see any signs of complacency,” he said. “The players keep themselves on edge.”
He expects Ghana to sit back and hit on the counter. “They are very physical, very fast and dangerous.”
After the Croatia win, the team bus played Oasis. “Wonderwall” echoed through the stadium. Tuchel loved it.
“It was a beautiful moment and it meant a lot to all of us. It is an iconic song and easy enough for everyone to sing. Hopefully it becomes an anthem because that is exactly what a tournament like this is for, for the connection between fans and the team.”
Tuchel might not be belting out the national anthem yet. But he’s clearly all in on this World Cup ride.
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