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The England national team has announced its World Cup squad, and head coach Thomas Tuchel gave an interview.
Feeling the Emotions During the Phone Calls
Tuchel: "These phone calls were extremely difficult because I respect all these players, both as footballers and as individuals. Everyone on the 55-man shortlist deserved to be called up, and it was truly painful and tough to cut the number down to 26.
"I felt the emotions during those calls. I phoned every player who had been with us to express my gratitude and respect. Many of them truly deserved to be selected, but we looked back at their performances in September and October, and things didn't change much in November. We have young players full of desire and passion, and a blend of youth and experience will bring out the best in them.
“That's why we relied heavily on this group during those three training camps. It also comes down to positions—you can't select five attacking midfielders and then make them play in unfamiliar roles. Who would that benefit?”
The Right Decision
Tuchel: "It wasn't easy, but I believe it was the right decision.
"It was the result of considering multiple factors. What have they done for us? Can a certain player bring different qualities? Their contributions to us carried significant weight, and then we also observed and evaluated further. What you do for your club will always be an important consideration, but their performances in the training camps were also crucial.
“After the match against Serbia, the players didn't know this, but we saw five or six of them staying behind to practice running on a poor-quality pitch under dim lighting. They didn't complain, grumble, or form cliques. And they had no idea we were watching.”
Every Call Strengthened My Conviction
Tuchel: “There were some impressive calls and feedback. You could feel the emotions and what receiving that call meant, even for those players who had participated in major tournaments. It was reassuring to see such reactions. Every single call made me even more convinced that we had made the right choices.”
What Matters is the Best Team, Not the Most Talented Players
Tuchel: “Hopefully this is the best team. From the very beginning, we've said that we want to build the best team, not necessarily the most talented individuals. The team is the main focus, and that was the guiding principle behind selecting this squad. If we want to achieve our goals, this is the thinking behind it all.”
Tactics
Tuchel: "Tactics will never be overlooked, as you can see from the squad selection—we've chosen three goalkeepers, nine defenders, and seven midfielders for three midfield positions, so the idea is to stick to our existing formation. Our defensive strategy needs to be flexible, as opponents will use various formations. We can implement high pressing, depending on the opponent.
“Will we change our tactical structure? I think we'll try to stick to what has made us strong. We have key players who can make an impact in crucial positions. The goal is to rediscover our identity in Florida, then continue our preparations in Kansas—there won't be too many tactical adjustments.”
England's Championship Chances
Tuchel: “To be honest, you can dream. I can spend a little time each day dreaming about it, then quickly return to reality and break down our objectives into step-by-step targets. From the first training camp onwards, we've been clear—we're going to try to win the championship. If the energy and commitment are there, if there's brotherhood, the fans will see it. At the same time, we're well aware that we need to play with passion. The goal is clear, but breaking it down is important—the first phase is the training camp, then the group stage.”
