Analyzing England’s trajectory under Thomas Tuchel reveals concerning patterns as the 2026 World Cup approaches. With exactly one year until football’s premier tournament kicks off, England supporters are questioning whether their national team has regressed since Gareth Southgate’s departure. The recent 3-1 defeat to Senegal at the City Ground has intensified scrutiny on Tuchel’s leadership and tactical decisions, leaving many to wonder if the Three Lions have lost their competitive edge.
Tactical confusion and declining performances
Since taking charge following Southgate’s resignation after the Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, Thomas Tuchel has struggled to establish a clear identity for England. Despite winning his first three World Cup qualifiers without conceding, these victories came against significantly lower-ranked opponents like Latvia, Albania, and Andorra. The performances in these matches lacked the conviction expected from a team with World Cup aspirations.
The recent display against Senegal exposed fundamental problems in England’s tactical approach. Making ten changes from the previous match demonstrated experimentation, but also revealed a lack of settled strategy. England appeared disjointed, with players seemingly uncertain about their roles within the system.
One of Tuchel’s major challenges has been finding the optimal position for Jude Bellingham. The star midfielder has yet to replicate his club form under the new regime, with Tuchel testing him in various roles:
- As an advanced number 10
- In a conventional midfield position
- In a forward role supporting Kane
- In wider positions
This indecision extends to other areas of the team. The defensive structure appears fragile, particularly with John Stones absent through injury. The attacking configuration remains equally unresolved, with Tuchel rotating between numerous forward options without establishing a consistent front line beyond Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
Selection controversies and aging veterans
Some of Tuchel’s personnel choices have raised significant concerns about his vision for the squad. The recall of Jordan Henderson, who turns 35 next week, has been particularly puzzling. The Ajax midfielder made his first England start since November 2023 against Andorra but offered little impact, suggesting his international career should be drawing to a close.
Similarly, Kyle Walker’s performance against Senegal indicated a player past his international prime. At 35, Walker became the first player to represent England in his mid-thirties since Frank Lampard in 2014. His defensive lapses, including switching off for Ismaila Sarr’s equalizer, highlighted the declining physical attributes of a once-dominant full-back.
Tuchel’s handling of the right-back position illustrates wider selection issues. Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite his move to Real Madrid, appears to have fallen out of favor, with Tuchel preferring both Walker and midfielder Curtis Jones in that position. Meanwhile, Chelsea captain Reece James was deployed as a makeshift left-back against Andorra, further complicating the defensive picture.
| Player | Age | Position | Concerns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Walker | 35 | Right-back | Declining pace, defensive lapses |
| Jordan Henderson | 34 | Midfielder | Limited mobility, minimal impact |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 26 | Right-back | Underutilized despite technical ability |
The striker situation presents another dilemma. While Harry Kane remains prolific, scoring in all four matches under Tuchel, alternatives like Ivan Toney have been curiously underused. Toney was summoned from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli but received just two minutes against Senegal, raising questions about Tuchel’s commitment to testing Kane’s potential deputies.
Fan frustration and World Cup timeline
The City Ground crowd’s reaction to the Senegal defeat marked a significant turning point in Tuchel’s brief tenure. Having welcomed the team enthusiastically before kick-off, fans quickly turned hostile after witnessing a subpar performance. Shouts of “disgraceful” accompanied the players as they left the pitch, demonstrating how patience with the new regime is already wearing thin.
This represents a remarkably swift deterioration in public support. Paper airplanes – the traditional sign of fan boredom – had already appeared during earlier matches against Latvia and Albania. Now, outright jeering indicates mounting frustration with England’s direction under Tuchel.
The timing of this backlash is particularly concerning with the World Cup only twelve months away. Questions persist about Tuchel’s decision to delay his start date until January 2025, despite being appointed in October 2024. Those three months could prove crucial lost preparation time as England struggles to establish cohesion.
Tuchel remains publicly optimistic, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “The World Cup is not next week. We have two more games in September and then we meet again in the World Cup season. We need these kinds of matches to learn.” Captain Harry Kane has also urged perspective, noting: “This is only the manager’s second camp and we have a lot of young players and inexperienced players at this level.”
Building a foundation for 2026
Despite current concerns, there remain positives within Tuchel’s England project. Kane’s exceptional goalscoring form under the German coach – 48 goals in 49 appearances between Bayern Munich and England – represents a foundation upon which to build. His goals-per-game ratio of 0.98 under Tuchel exceeds his record with any previous manager.
The coming months will prove decisive in determining whether England has truly regressed since Southgate’s departure or if Tuchel is simply experiencing growing pains in his adaptation to international management. September’s fixtures against Andorra and Serbia will provide further evidence of England’s trajectory before the World Cup qualifying campaign intensifies.
For England to arrive in North America next summer as genuine contenders, Tuchel must quickly establish tactical clarity, determine his best eleven, and rebuild public confidence. The clock is ticking, and the present evidence suggests England may indeed have taken steps backward since their Euro 2024 final appearance. The next twelve months will determine whether this represents a temporary setback or a more concerning decline.
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