Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel reveals he’ll sing national anthem on one condition as he prepares to lead out England
NEW England boss Thomas Tuchel will sing the national anthem — but only after we win a few games.
The new German manager revealed yesterday that he will not be belting out God Save The King when he takes charge for the first time at Wembley next week.
But he promised he will join in with the players when they get a few wins under his leadership, and he has “earned the right”.
His revelation comes after England’s then-interim manager Lee Carsley sparked controversy last year by refusing to sing the national anthem.
Tuchel, 51, also revealed he was proud to receive the royal seal of approval from Prince William, who told The Sun he is the “best manager for the job” and could even win us the World Cup.
As he unveiled his first England squad yesterday, Tuchel joked the heir to the throne had been “pushing hard” for him to include players from his beloved Aston Villa.
FA patron William and Tuchel have met twice since the former Chelsea and PSG boss took on the England job, including at Windsor Castle last month.
But they did not discuss the national anthem.
Tuchel said yesterday: “I didn’t tell him at this point.
“It didn’t come up.
“But I made my decision.
“I think first of all, you have a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem, and I could not be more proud to be on the sideline and be in charge of the English national team.
“It means everything.
“It means a lot to me, I can assure you.
“But I can feel because it’s that meaningful and it’s that emotional and it’s so powerful the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it.
“I feel that it’s not just a given.
“You cannot just sing it.
“That’s why I decided that I will not sing it in my first matches.”
Tuchel will therefore be keeping silent when it is played at a sold-out Wembley Stadium before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Albania on Friday night, and Latvia next Monday.
But he said: “I will earn it with results, with building a group, with doing my job properly and by creating a feeling where maybe even you guys say at some point, ‘Now it’s time you sing it, it feels like you proper earn it and you’re a proper English guy now’!
“Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters, so everyone feels like, ‘He should sing it now, he’s one of our own, he’s the English manager, he should sing it’.”
Speaking exclusively to The Sun this week, William said the former Bayern Munich manager is the “best person for the job” and winning the World Cup next summer is “definitely possible”.
Opening up about their meetings, Tuchel said yesterday he was honoured to get the prince’s backing, adding: “It makes me very proud.”
Asked if William’s prediction that a German could end 60 years of hurt “adds pressure”, he said: “Yeah, of course.
“The pressure comes with the job, and the pressure is a privilege to be in this role.”
He went on: “I met His Royal Highness once during a match and we then had another meeting in Windsor Castle and it was just nothing but impressive the way he speaks and how emotional he supports Aston Villa and of course the national team.
“It’s just so impressive.
“It was so nice to speak to him about football.
“He has a strong opinion.”
Tuchel then joked: “He was pushing hard for the Aston Villa players, which was not needed because we admire them a lot and we admire a lot what is happening there in the club.
“But it means a lot and it’s just something very, very special that comes with the role and it’s an honour and a privilege and comes with big responsibility.”
Aston Villa stars Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers plus Marcus Rashford, currently on loan from Manchester United, all made Tuchel’s first 26-man squad.
Rashford’s recall was not the only surprise — as there was also a return for Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson, who last played for England in November 2023.
Newcastle defender Dan Burn got his first call-up at the age of 32 while Arsenal starlet Miles Lewis-Skelly, 18, also features for the first time.
But Manchester City’s Jack Grealish has been left out.
William, FA president for 19 years before stepping down after Euro 2024, recalled consoling the players immediately after their heartbreaking loss to Spain at the final in Berlin.
He told The Sun it was “the hardest changing room atmosphere I’ve ever walked into”.
After boss Gareth Southgate quit, he hailed his “humility, compassion and true leadership under the most intense pressure and scrutiny”.
Appointing a foreign replacement sparked criticism for the FA but William told The Sun this week Tuchel was the right candidate.
He said: “I understand the debate around having an English manager but, to me, it should be the best person for the job — and Thomas is exactly the right person.
“He’s one of the top five managers in the world.
“It would be amazing if he could win the World Cup — it’s definitely possible.”
The prince also described his love for Aston Villa before watching them beat Club Brugge on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
He also revealed he goes undercover on online fan forums.
And he was praised for his admission that he found the TV blackout on 3pm games on Saturdays “irritating” as he cannot always get to Villa Park.
One fan on the Reddit AVFC forum said: “Truly the people’s prince.”
Another added: “Nice bit of humility there from him especially as he can’t get to Villa Park easily.
“I imagine his entourage is huge.
“You know around him are many bodyguards and there’s a reason he’s always at the back.”
Another joked: “I wonder what his Reddit handle is.”
On fan forum Heroes And Villains, even non-royalists were delighted he was there to see Villa.
One, Rob Bridge, said: “Good. Regardless of my preference for an elected head of state it is excellent PR for the club.”
And Villa Tim added: “He loves the Villa.
“Great to see it and him enjoying himself.”
A third — called Brazilian Villain — referred to the club’s glory days when they won the 1982 European Cup.
He quipped: “He was born in June 82.
“Who else could he choose but the reigning European champions?”
Another, Purple Trousers, joked: “I am Prince William.”
The prince is planning to travel to France for Villa’s quarter-final first leg against PSG next month.
But he is set to miss Tuchel’s first England match next week due to commitments in Estonia, where he will be supporting British troops on Nato’s western frontier.