The road from England to the World Cup in 2026 began with a couple of perfect victories, while Thomas Tuchel enjoyed his first taste from the international leadership.
The German was confirmed as a successor to Gareth Southgate last October with the sole intention of guiding the three lions in the glory of the World Cup in North America. Tuchel’s term began on January 1, 2025, and there were a lot of buzz around the arc of the new manager against Albania on Friday night.
Tuchel, a champion -winning coach considered one of the best in the business, spoke rather of the end of Southgate’s reign and eliminated what will be needed for England to ascend in a kingdom that has been avoided since 1966.
This is what we have learned from the first two games of the new manager during the international break of March.
Really, these were two games in Wembley that we have seen many times. England rarely was threatened by opponents, enjoying the whole territory against a deep defense and were often accused by Lee Dixon of moving the ball too slowly.
His victories on Albania and Latvia were as routine as they came, and while these performances were very familiar, there were some things that set aside Tuchel’s influence.
England’s willingness to run behind was remarkable before against Albania, with Jude Bellingham, in particular, which took place from the intention of penetrating the compact block of the opponent. Bellingham also turned well with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Marcus Rashford, who helped the three lions to play around Albania, and was a combination between Real Madrid’s superstar and debutant Lewis-Skelle, who resulted in the first goal of the Tuchel era.
They played with a significant intensity with and without the ball on Friday night, and there was a particular stimulus to be taken in the way the team contributed after losing possession.
In addition, there was a remarkable difference in the way England established in his two parties. Against Albania, Lewis-Skelly played a more conventional left-wing role, which allowed him a bit of freedom to derive, but also to overlap. On Monday night, the 18 -year investment in the midfield was much more different. The 4-3-3 of England became 3-2-5 with the ball, with Lewis-Skelly associating Rice in the middle of the park when the three lions had the ball.
Tuchel He will continue to subtly adjust throughout his term and the will of the German to make -manifest in March.
Harry Maguire and John Stones were two staples of Gareth Southgate’s time, but it is left to see the great role the couple will play under Tuchel.
Maguire has been out of the image of England for some time, but has performed excellently in Southgate’s important tournaments, while Stones has long been considered as the best part of the center of the country’s ranks, despite its persistent bad people.
The absence of Maguire at Euro 2024 It allows the alternatives to be headed, and Marc Guehi was filled in a way next to the stones. The captain of Crystal Palace was probably the best player in England in the tournament.
Ezri Konsa also impressed his only beginning, and was the great winner of this pause. Aston Villa’s defender started both games, and although opponents were modest, he did not put a bad foot. While Dan Burn and Guehi produced a couple of mishaps, Konsa was a serene presence on the bottom line of England. He is a brilliant high line defender that plays with the controlled aggression of the adults.
Konsa actions increase.
Manchester City supporters will tell you that the team of England must be built around Phil Foden.
The dazzling game player has played a key role in the victories of titles of the Premier League, but his performances for the three lions have often left much to be desired.
Southgate did not necessarily build his side around Foden, but he did Shoehorn The City Star in a system that made it difficult for the individual and the collective to be. In the Euro 2024, Foden began in an inner role without a reliable overlap, which means that he entered a congested center. The result was an incoesive and unbalanced mess.
In 45 caps, Foden has few notable moments in a shirt in England, and the first signs suggest that Bellingham will be the main man in Tuchel. The star of Madrid started in the center of the two classifiers of March, starring Albania, while Foden was seen on an inappropriate broad role.
Tuchel was critical of the performances of the wide players on Friday night and it was not a surprise that Foden dropped on Monday. Enjoyed a forgetful cameo Against LatviaAnd it should be better to get used to these brief appearances under this manager.
Tuchel has taken on England’s work with the aim of winning the 2026 World Cup. As it is, this is the only task of German. No pressure, eh?
However, the three lions will have to enter the tournament, assuming that they are classified by a domesticated group, without much experience of facing a first -rate rival under the new manager.
They will face the 29th place in the Wales world in a friendly later this year, while Serbia, which occupies the place number 32, is its hardest rival to qualify.
Groups qualified for important tournaments are rarely loaded with complicated fixations, but England had to overcome Italy and Ukraine to classify for the Euro 2024 and has benefited from the previously faced as Spain, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in the UEFA League. However, his relegation from the league in 2022 meant that England faced Greece, Ireland and Finland in the recent Nations League circuit, the Era of Lee Carsley.
There are two slots in March and June 2026 before the World CupAnd FA must organize friendships against high-ranking opponents to offer Tuchel the opportunity to face those who will be able to find themselves in a time of crisis.
