England Manager Thomas Tuchel Calls for “Hunger to Win” Ahead of First Game in Charge
As Thomas Tuchel prepares to take charge of the England national team for the first time, he has emphasized his desire for the squad to adopt a winning mentality driven by ambition rather than fear. The German coach, who recently replaced Gareth Southgate, wants his players to focus on attacking success rather than merely avoiding failure.
England will kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Albania at Wembley on Friday before traveling to face Latvia on Monday. Tuchel, speaking in his first pre-match press conference, acknowledged the pressures that come with representing England but insisted that players should embrace the challenge with confidence.
“I’ve often heard that wearing the England shirt is a heavy burden,” Tuchel said. “But that’s not true. I understand what the players mean, though—there was a visible tension during the Euros, a pressure that seemed to weigh on them. It felt like they were playing not to lose rather than playing to win.”
Tuchel made it clear that he wants to shift this mentality. “I want us to play with excitement, with a real hunger and desire to win,” he continued. “Failure is part of football, and accepting that is crucial. But fear of failure should never hold us back.”
A New Era After Southgate’s Reign
Tuchel steps into the role following Southgate’s tenure, which saw England achieve significant milestones but ultimately fall short of silverware. Under Southgate’s leadership, England reached back-to-back European Championship finals, finishing as runners-up to Italy in 2020 and Spain in 2024. He also guided the team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals in 2022.
Despite this progress, Southgate faced criticism, particularly during Euro 2024, for a conservative style of play that some felt stifled England’s attacking potential. His team struggled to assert dominance in the group stage, narrowly defeating Serbia before drawing with Denmark and Slovenia. Although they advanced through the knockout rounds—beating Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands—many believed England failed to fully capitalize on the talent within their squad.
Kane: Time to Take the Next Step
England captain Harry Kane echoed Tuchel’s sentiment, acknowledging that the team has come close to glory but must now take the final step and secure a major tournament victory.
“We’ve been extremely close to being two-time European champions,” Kane told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Over the last 15 years, this team has been as successful as any England side in history, but ultimately, success is measured by winning finals.”
Kane emphasized that while Southgate helped establish England as a consistent contender, the next objective is clear. “Early in Gareth’s tenure, we spoke about reaching semi-finals and finals, and we’ve done that. Now, it’s about winning something.”
With Tuchel at the helm, England will look to embrace a more fearless, attacking approach as they set their sights on World Cup qualification.
England Manager Thomas Tuchel Calls for “Hunger to Win” Ahead of First Game in Charge