World Cup qualification: Tuchels England debut with returnees and royal praise

Thomas Tuchel nominated his first squad as England’s national football coach – and received royal support before the premiere. Prince William praised the German coach as “exactly the right one” for the job.

Tuchel said to be England coach, was “exciting and somehow surreal”. “It is a great honor and I am very proud of it. I am absolutely aware that it is something special to be able to coach this team as a foreign coach. And I will make sure that I also earn it.”

Prince William Adelt Tuchel – and already speaks of the World Cup title

With a view to the discussion as to whether an Englishman does not have to occupy the most important coaching position in English football, Prince William said that he could understand the debate. “But in my opinion it should be the best person for this job-and Thomas is exactly the right one. He is undoubtedly one of the five best coaches in the world,” said the patron of the English Football Association FA of the “Sun”. “It would be fantastic if he could win the World Cup next year. We are preparing for it and it is definitely possible.”

The royal praise makes him very proud, said Tuchel. At a meeting at Windsor Castle, he had already replaced with the heir to the throne and glowing football fan. “It means a lot to me and it is simply something very special that goes with this job,” said the 51-year-old. “It is an honor and privilege – but also a great responsibility.”

Tuchel relies on prominent returnees

Tuchel will start his premiere next Friday against Albania and three days later against Latvia with two prominent returnees. He brought the stars Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa) and Jordan Henderson (Ajax Amsterdam) back into the squad of the Three Lions. Rashford and Henderson were not nominated for the EM 2024 in Germany by ex-coach Gareth Southgate and was not taken into account by interim coach Lee Carsley afterwards.

The contingent of Bavaria’s striker Harry Kane, the captain remains. In contrast, Tuchel does without the weak Jack Grialish by Manchester City. In the World Cup qualification, Vice-European champion England also meets Serbia and Andorra in Group K.

Tuchel had taken on his job as England’s national coach on January 1 – the first German ever. The former coach of FC Bayern Munich, FC Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, should lead England to the 2026 World Cup and, if possible, wait for the first big title since the World Cup triumph in 1966.