England head coach Thomas Tuchel strode confidently into Wembley
Stadium on Wednesday with a single-minded vision to win the 2026 World Cup for
the success-starved soccer nation.
A whirlwind week
has seen the 51-year-old German sign an 18-month contract to lead England to
the tournament being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking at a
packed news conference, the former Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich
coach borrowed a quote from Brazilian great Pele to describe his excitement at
becoming only the third foreign coach to lead England.
“I’m of course
obviously very excited and honoured to be here today as a new head coach of
England,” Tuchel, who will take up his new role in January, told reporters.
“I just had the
chance to read a quote from Pele in the building who said that Wembley is the
heart, the capital and the cathedral of football and I think he was absolutely
right.”
England, however, have not won the World Cup, or any other major
trophy, since 1966 and Tuchel said it was time to capitalise on one of the best
squads since that 1966 team.
“I understood very
quickly that it’s a big job,” Tuchel said. “Once I made a time frame up in my
mind from January to the World Cup, I felt already excited that it suited my
passion, to strive to push this group of players.
“To be part of
this federation with such a strong record in the last tournaments to push it
over the line and to try to put a second star on the shirt,” he added in
reference to the convention of international teams wearing shirts bearing the
number of stars to match their World Cup triumphs.
Mark Bullingham,
the FA’s chief executive, said around 10 candidates had been interviewed for
the job but that Tuchel had a clear vision that would give a highly-rated squad
the best chance of winning the World Cup.
QUESTIONS RAISED
After eight years under Englishman Gareth Southgate, in which
England reached a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals,
the choice of Tuchel has raised questions about why another English coach was
not appointed.
Tuchel, who was
asked one question in German, said he had not made a decision on whether he
would sing the national anthem, but had a message for critics of his
appointment.
“I’m sorry, I just
have a German passport but the supporters felt my passion for the English
Premier League, my passion for the country, how I love to live here,” Tuchel,
who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, said.
“Hopefully, I can
convince them and show them and prove them that I’m proud to be the English
manager, I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country
and the target for the next 18 months is nothing else.
“Everyone can be
assured that we will do it with passion and with emotions and we will try to
install values and principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the
dream come true.”
Tuchel, who will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, said
the relatively short 18-month contract was streamlined and allowed him to focus
solely on the World Cup.
“It’s 18 months
and then we agreed to sit together and then we see. I have good experience with
18 months personally,” Tuchel, who was sacked after a similar period by Chelsea
and lasted only one full season at Bayern Munich, said.
“I think it’s a
good time frame because it will help us to focus. We are here to work on the
best possible outcome for the World Cup and then let’s see whatever comes.”
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