Thomas Tuchel slams Gareth Southgate’s boring ways – ‘England have been afraid of shedding’
New England boss Thomas Tuchel has taken a swipe at Gareth Southgate and his tactics – saying the Three Lions lacked “excitement” and were “afraid to drop out” of Euro 2024
Thomas Tuchel has slammed England’s tactics under Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions are ready to make their bow under the German on Friday (March 21), when they open their World Cup qualification campaign against Albania at Wembley.
Tuchel is aiming to take England to their first major international trophy since their 1966 World Cup win over West Germany. Southgate twice guided England to the final in the Euros – losing to Italy and Spain respectively.
And Tuchel has now slammed Southgate’s approach to the two games, claiming the Three Lions were “afraid of losing”.
In an interview with ITV, the former Chelsea manager, when asked if England had a clear playing style at the Euros, said: “Not last summer, no.
“The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns. The freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger.
“They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament, in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”
Under Southgate, England had relied on individual brilliance. Jude Bellingham scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against Slovakia or Ollie Watkins popping up in the last minute of the semi-final to score the winning goal against the Netherlands.
Tuchel was then asked about the demands of his team moving forwards, he said: “Excitement.
“That people feel that’s the team to beat. That we arrive with a group to beat. That we know already, once we’ve qualified, once we arrive that this is the team to beat.”
Tuchel will start his tenure as England boss on Friday against Albania before the Three Lions welcome Latvia on Monday.
The German has one goal: win the World Cup.
“That’s the only goal,” Morgan Rogers said when asked about Tuchel’s target. “He was very clear and transparent. With what he wants to do, how he wants to do it, how he wants to go about it, what he sees in us, and what we need to improve.
“It was very straight-up, no cutting round corners. It was straight and that’s how he is. It’s definitely been taken on board and it’s definitely a first message to carry us on and lead us on through the camps.”
