When Anthony Gordon said in Germany that England was too predictable and claimed that he could bring excitement, it marked the end of his tournament under Gareth Southgate.
Not too far away in Bavaria, the man who would be the next three lion boss, nodded in accordance. Not with the subsequent decision by Southgate to ignore the winger, but with the outspoken assessment of the player.
Because that was Thomas Tuchel's message to his team this week, later passed on to the media so candidly – the team that was defeated by Spain in the final of Euro 2024, was missing 'identity, clarity and rhythms'. Not only that, he said, they were 'scared' and did not play with 'enough excitement and togetherness' to win the euros.
It was a bomb allowance to explode before his management debut. The problem of Tuchel, however, is that Southgate's England was not explosive enough. Say what you think, Thomas.
But isn't that what England needs? A manager to take the bulls and lead them to victory, instead of seeing them horns about positional and leadership problems. Even Captain Harry Kane admits that the team was 'light on leadership' in the summer. That is the motivation of Tuchel when recalling Jordan Henderson.
But the new head coach will lead from the front. So much was clear during the conversation with him on Thursday. He wants, and will be honest in exchange. He wants feedback. He wants, you feel like Gordon to say what they think.
However, it did a lot of laughter when he then gave the impression that, despite that will for openness, it will end with his players who agree with him. “The (my assessment of the euros) was not a question,” said Tuchel. “I didn't ask them:” Was it that? ” I just said this is my observation and here it is potential and this is how we want it to be from now on. They have no choice! They have to follow! '
Tuchel is of course currently coming from a position of the power of opening game, especially when that will probably result in a comfortable victory over Albania on Friday evening. But the German took every question in the Tottenham training center with conviction, enthusiasm and, if necessary, humor.
Was the ball exceeded the border in 1966? “I don't think so,” he said. “But there was no VAR at the moment, so it's.” Does the English shirt weigh heavily on the players? “In fact, it's not heavy,” he said, and his smile told you he had understood the question. “It is a high -quality shirt and it will weigh less when you come to America, because they are already working on a shirt that adapts to the climate there.”
If Tuchel wants his team to play without fear and faith, it would be a reflection of his own performance here. The 51-year-old could have told you that the fields were blue outside and the sky was green and you would have gone to check.
There was one story that left you on names, and it brought us back to the eve of the euros. If Tuchel's memory is accurate – and he is clearly great in honesty – then England could have done with him six months earlier than his start date in January.
“I saw the last friendly Spain for the euros on TV,” he started. “I never looked at a friendly game of Spain, but I looked at the entire game because I suddenly felt:” Wow, this is the real deal here. What are they doing? This is exciting “. They won 5-0 and the stadium went crazy.
“The difference in the last match of the English team (1-0 home defeat by Iceland) and how they were sent – half a empty stadium and some angry – it was so, so different.”
We should not think with gray -tinted glasses on the Southgate reign. He took England to two finals, recovered pride and faith and was just as articulated and assertive as Tuchel, if not anymore. But the new man has a point about the last round of the old one – it was tired and was missing.
“We want to implement the joy and solidarity, so that everyone feels safe to express themselves and do their utmost, and to play with a recognizable style,” said Tuchel, and you could almost hear Gordon cheer in the distance.
That is Tuchel's vision on the field, but talking soon turned about how he is doing it. Southgate was a statesman for whom no subject was forbidden. He took ownership of everything, from rainbow bracelet to global pandemies to wars on foreign soil – and rightly has a knighthood to show for his adulthood and intelligence.
Asked how he would deal with such politics, Tuchel gave an answer that Southgate would never have considered. “I don't need it!” he said. 'First of all, I mentioned myself in my head coach contract and not manager. We have the best chance if you allow the head coach to concentrate on football.
'I understand the importance of the role from your perspective. But maybe I can hide a bit behind not being English and not talking to everything that happens in your country out of respect, and focusing a little more on football. At a certain point it must be allowed for a football team that is sent to a World Cup to be a football team and not to be a political explanation. '
That felt in itself as the strongest statements. Tuchel is here to win competitions, no hearts and spirits. But if his team plays as well as he talks, he will probably win all three.
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