Thomas Tuchel's England go backwards as quick fixes to Gareth Southgate reign don't look so simple

11 June 2025, 07:24 | Updated: 11 June 2025, 17:00

Thomas Tuchel was hired to help England take the final step. But the team have gone backwards under his management so far.

After Gareth Southgate's side lost last summer's Euros final to Spain, the feeling was England just needed some tactical sharpness and a winner's edge to get over the line and end all those years of hurt. Tuchel, the FA said, could bring both.

But 11 months on, in an international window which saw Spain, along with their Nations League final conquerors Portugal, once again "set the benchmark", as Tuchel put it, for what is going to be required to win the 2026 World Cup, England's prospects of claiming that ultimate crown have slipped significantly.

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