Thomas Tuchel's Tenure as England Manager: An Analysis
A total of 325 days have passed since Thomas Tuchel was appointed as the new manager of the England national football team.
Despite this significant time frame, there remains uncertainty about what to expect from his squad, the Three Lions.
Tuchel officially took the helm on January 1, two and a half months after his initial announcement, but England has only played four matches since then, with Wayne Rooney labeling these fixtures as "nonsense".
Earlier this year, BBC Sport examined the various formations, playing styles, and tactics that Tuchel might implement, ranging from aggressive to more cautious approaches.
So, what have we learned so far, and what should fans anticipate during the upcoming international window, beginning with Saturday's match against Andorra at Villa Park?
A Small Sample Size...
One notable aspect of Tuchel's tenure is the limited number of games he has overseen compared to his predecessors. No other England manager since 2000 has managed so few matches in the 325 days following their appointment.
Even Sam Allardyce, who had a brief tenure in 2016, had a higher games-to-days ratio despite being sacked after just one match and 67 days.
“While Tuchel has only had four games, much of this was due to his own decision to delay his start until January 1, missing the opportunity to manage during Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland,” remarked chief football writer Phil McNulty. “In the same time frame, his predecessors had more matches to formulate their strategies. Roy Hodgson had 14 games, Fabio Capello had nine, and Gareth Southgate, Steve McClaren, and Sven-Goran Eriksson each had eight.”
“As the World Cup approaches, it is crucial for Tuchel to establish the shape, strategy, and identity he envisions for the England team.”
Who's in and Who's Out?
Unsurprisingly, the fewer matches have resulted in fewer new players being introduced. Only three players—Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Trevoh Chalobah—have earned their first caps under Tuchel, all of whom are defenders.
However, Djed Spence, Elliot Anderson, and Jarell Quansah may also make their debuts, having been named in the squad for the upcoming matches against Andorra and Serbia. Anderson and Quansah were instrumental in England's success at the European Under-21 Championship in June.
In contrast, Southgate introduced six debutants during his first year in charge, albeit across a significantly larger number of matches. Lee Carsley, who managed the team between Southgate's departure and Tuchel's arrival, incorporated eight debutants in just six matches.
“Squad selections have varied between the safe choice of experienced players, such as the continued selection of 35-year-old Jordan Henderson, and the perplexing decision to call up Ivan Toney from the Saudi Pro League, only to give him two minutes as a substitute against Senegal before dropping him entirely,” McNulty added.
“Tuchel has purposefully reduced his squad from 26 to 24 for this double-header, expressing a greater sense of urgency, emphasizing competition, and adopting a more ruthless approach, as seen in the exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker.”
Despite these choices, Tuchel's selections offer insights into his approach. “Tuchel has emphasized the need for the England national team to reflect the dominance and style of the Premier League, and his player selections, influenced in part by injuries, have mirrored this philosophy,” noted football tactics correspondent Umir Irfan. “The inclusion of players like Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, Jarrod Bowen, and Marc Guehi underscores his preference for the style and quality present in the Premier League, regardless of the club they represent.”
How Are England Trying to Play?
What about Tuchel's tactical approach? “It is evident that the objective is to create a more physically dominant, ball-controlling, and exciting team,” Irfan explained. “To begin with, England has utilized a 4-4-1-1 formation. During buildup play, they have transitioned between two common shapes: a 2-3-5 and a 3-2-5, with full-backs playing a pivotal role.”
“In the 3-2-5 formation, one full-back partners with two center-backs. This three-man defense in possession serves as a strategy to navigate around specific opposition formations, providing an additional passing option. In the 2-3-5 shape, both full-backs typically position themselves alongside a defensive midfielder, usually Declan Rice.”
“This arrangement allows the second central midfielder to advance, occasionally filled by Morgan Rogers or Curtis Jones. Additionally, it ensures that the central areas behind the ball are manned by competent defenders, maintaining both structural and individual defensive quality.”
“England's attacking midfielder and striker continue to drop deep for the ball, similar to their approach under Southgate. This movement creates space down the middle for players to exploit when an opposition central defender is drawn out of position. Runs from deep, including those from full-backs like Lewis-Skelly, have effectively utilized these openings.”
“Tuchel's attacking strategy is positional, with players occupying designated zones on the pitch, while encouraging rotations among these zones, ensuring that each zone remains covered.”
“Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham, and Lewis-Skelly have effectively rotated among their respective positions to create more dangerous attacking opportunities. The wingers primarily maintain width, as Tuchel aims for his most dynamic players to capitalize on these situations, unlike other coaches who prefer full-backs to stretch the play.”
Is It Working?
The verdict is still pending. When comparing England's three World Cup qualifiers under Tuchel with their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign under Southgate—a relevant comparison considering the quality of opposition—the statistics are largely comparable.
However, there are positive indicators as well. Metrics measuring possession, passing sequences, and touches inside the opponent's box have all increased. While the average goals per game has decreased, England outperformed their expected goals in 2022, and they are currently underachieving in terms of scoring. If they continue on this trajectory, goals should eventually come.
The defensive statistics also suggest a more aggressive pressing strategy, with high turnovers rising from 11.1 per game to 13.7, while the number of opposition passes per defensive action has decreased.
But what about the eye test? “The match against Andorra at Villa Park on Saturday should be a straightforward fixture in international football, but the subsequent game against Serbia in the challenging environment of Belgrade will be a more significant test,” McNulty concluded.