How Thomas Tuchel will excite England fans by unleashing new style of play in bid for World Cup glory
THOMAS TUCHEL will take charge of his first England match tonight as the Three Lions kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign.
The former Chelsea boss, who was confirmed as Gareth Southgate‘s permanent successor back in October, has already raised some eyebrows with his squad selection.
Jordan Henderson was granted a return to the fold, while 32-year-old Dan Burn earned his first call-up.
Tuchel is determined to transform England into “the team to beat” ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is therefore set to make some major tactical changes.
In the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our expert DEAN SCOGGINS looks at what the German head coach might choose to do differently.
How will England set up?
Tuchel is NOT just a three-at-the-back man. It’s not just down to a formation with him.
It’s about the players he has available.
At Dortmund, he used four at the back and an adaptive set-up in attack.
At PSG, he started with a three-at-the-back, moved to a four-at-the-back and then went to a three-at-the-back again.
He tried to evolve a team around Neymar, so he could attempt to do something similar with the England team.
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Then at Chelsea he used wing-backs with three at the back – he even won the Champions League with it.
But, do England have the wing backs to do that?
And then at Bayern Munich, he went back to four at the back again.
It’s going to be difficult to predict what Tuchel might do, so, we’ve looked at some potential options…
Set-up
Defensively, there are some big question marks.
There is no John Stones in this squad, no Harry Maguire, no real, natural left-back.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has been outstanding for Arsenal, so we could see Kyle Walker play in the right-back position and the teenager in the left-back position,
Lewis-Skelly would then likely act as an inverted full-back – a role that has become common in the Premier League.
It would see the Arsenal star shift into midfield, forming a back-three with potentially Walker, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi.
Dan Burn could even be given a chance at centre-back.
Alternatively, Burn could play as a left-back with Reece James at right-back.
James might then be the man to move into midfield, leaving the Newcastle star in the back three.
However, the key for Tuchel is getting the best out of his attacking players.
Throughout the team there are some other big question marks.
Does Jude Bellingham play as the 10? Or does Phil Foden play as a 10 with Bellingham dropping back as an eight with Declan Rice?
England will also be without Bukayo Saka for the next two games.
Jarrod Bowen could be given a start out on the right, with either Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon on the left.
Tuchel is into the rotation of players and getting the best out of those who are available to him.
Therefore, we could see a three-at-the-back on Friday and a four-a-the-back on Monday.
Tuchel will be looking for the two wingers to provide width, which will allow the No.10 to push forward along with another midfielder.
That will allow for a 3-2-5 formation going forward. With five players in the attacking third, more options become available.
Wingers will therefore be able to interchange and come inside to play off Harry Kane, which is important for Tuchel.
Exciting football
With England, there is no excuse.
The players are there to score loads of goals.
The best goal-scoring number nine in Europe, the best number eight in Europe in Bellingham. Tuchel might also be able to get more out of Foden in an England squad.
When he is fully fit, Cole Palmer will be in there as well.
England fans should expect a much higher pressing game than we saw under Southgate.
Who will be No10?
The 10 position is what Tuchel looks at in his squad and how he’s going to get the best out of his No.10.
At Dortmund, he had Ilkay Gundogan in that side – Tuchel got the best out of him.
At Bayern, it was Jamal Musiala. At PSG, it was Neymar.
With England, it’s Jude Bellingham.
Tuchel has to get the best out of Bellingham. He is the talisman.
England are going to get goals from Kane if they give him the ball, there are also loads of options in the wide areas.
But how do they get the best out of the No10 playing off Kane?
Before, under Southgate, that area of the pitch was too congested because the wingers were not wide enough and the defensive players were pushing too high.
Tuchel will want to keep the wingers wide to give the central attacking players – including two potential No10s – more space.
The head coach needs to get the best out of the first names on the team sheet, especially Bellingham.
Aside from Kane, who will be in attack?
Bowen, Gordon and Rashford all like to come inside from their wings.
Tuchel had plenty of success with those type of players at Borussia Dortmund, such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the wing alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.
Those players – along with the likes of Gundogan and Shinji Kagawa in midfield – regularly rotated, which benefited the team as a whole.
Tuchel wants his attacking stars to move in between positions, which could help to get the best out of the likes of Kane and Bellingham.
Which future stars could shine under Tuchel?
There’s a feeling around the camp that the Under-21s are as good as the first team at the moment.
Ethan Nwaneri has been a revelation at Arsenal in the absence of Saka, who is also not in the team due to injury.
Lewis-Skelly is in the squad, but Adam Wharton missed out – even though Tuchel likes to rely on a ball-playing midfielder who links play, which isn’t necessarily Rice’s game.
Lewis Hall would also be a good option at left-back for future fixtures.
The Newcastle ace has been ruled out for the rest of this season with a foot injury.
The human tuch
ENGLAND'S new boss Thomas Tuchel has announced his first squad - to mixed reaction.
Tuchel, 51, made a couple of curve-ball selections, including a recall for Jordan Henderson that has sparked fan outrage.
Dave Kidd explains why Henderson’s return signposts how Tuchel plans to win the World Cup.
And we have a go at working at how his England XI could line up against Albania at Wembley.