Aksel Kryhlmand
Tuchel’s attacking selections suggest he’s still throwing darts in the dark
England fans had hoped for renewal when Thomas Tuchel succeeded Gareth Southgate. Yet with just 12 months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the early signs suggest that the transition has brought more confusion than clarity. A 3-1 defeat to Senegal at the City Ground has raised urgent questions: Is England moving forward, or already falling behind?
Tuchel’s Honeymoon Ends Abruptly
Tuchel promised a team that would “play with a smile,” but the mood turned sour in Nottingham. Despite labelling the game a learning experience, the German was met with boos and jeers following England’s flat and disjointed performance. Even a heavily rotated lineup was no excuse for being thoroughly outplayed by Senegal.
This was no isolated stumble. England laboured to a 1-0 win over 173rd-ranked Andorra days earlier. Combined with visible frustration from senior players, including Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane the sense of unease is growing.
No Identity, No System, Just Experiments
Under Southgate, England had structure, sometimes overly cautious, but still functional. Under Tuchel, that identity has vanished. Systems have shifted from game to game, and selections feel more like experiments than a coherent plan. Against Senegal, England fielded a lineup with makeshift roles and few clear partnerships.
Tuchel’s own reputation was built on tactical discipline at Chelsea, but with England, there is no consistent formation. The triple backline-system he favoured in club football hasn’t made an appearance yet. His team selections including Reece James at left back and Curtis Jones at right back, have prompted confusion rather than innovation.
Time Has Caught Henderson and Walker
The inclusion of veterans Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker has also puzzled supporters. Henderson, weeks away from turning 35, was a passenger against Andorra. Walker, now also 35, was brutally exposed by Ismaila Sarr and looked well off the pace. England’s oldest right back since Frank Lampard in 2014, Walker was targeted by Senegal with visible success.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James waiting in the wings, Tuchel’s decisions suggest a lack of trust in his younger options, a dangerous game to play so close to a major tournament.
The Bellingham Conundrum
Tuchel has yet to unlock the best version of Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid star remains a central figure but has looked unsettled in undefined roles, sometimes deeper, sometimes advanced, and occasionally wide. His fiery temperament boiled over again against Senegal, where a disallowed goal sparked another heated exchange with officials.
Bellingham can be a No. 8, No. 10, or even a second striker, but without a stable system, he remains a misused asset rather than England’s midfield engine.
Still Searching for the Right Attack
Tuchel’s attacking selections suggest he’s still throwing darts in the dark. Against Andorra: Kane, Palmer, Rogers, Madueke. Against Senegal: Kane, Saka, Gordon, Eze. The only constants are Kane and Saka, the rest of the puzzle remains unsolved.
Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford could re-enter the equation next season, but Tuchel must soon settle on a core unit. Time is running out.
Tuchel’s Delayed Start — A Missed Opportunity?
Tuchel was appointed in October 2024, but only began officially in January 2025. That three-month gap may now seem costly. With just one year to the World Cup, the lack of tactical cohesion and team chemistry is stark.
Harry Kane, ever the diplomat, acknowledged the growing pains but tried to provide context:
“It’s only the manager’s second camp… These aren’t excuses, this is the reality.”
— BBC Radio 5 Live
Reasons for Optimism?
It’s not all doom. England are three for three in World Cup qualifiers and haven’t conceded in those matches. Kane has scored in all four of Tuchel’s games and now boasts an astonishing 48 goals in 49 appearances under the German, across Bayern and England.
Tuchel himself remains calm:
“We need to accept the criticism and get better… The World Cup is not next week.”
— BBC Radio 5 Live
England will next face Andorra and Serbia in September. Those matches will provide Tuchel one last window to stabilise his squad before 2026.
Twelve Months to Find the Answers
Tuchel has elite pedigree, a respected squad, and the backing of the FA, for now. But England’s current trajectory feels uncertain, bordering on chaotic. A lack of tactical clarity, overreliance on aging players, and erratic team selections are not encouraging signs.
The 2026 World Cup will be here before we know it and Tuchel must now prove that England are evolving under his watch, not regressing.