After two consecutive defeats in the EURO finals, the English Football Association (FA) has decided to put its trust in Thomas Tuchel. In the past, the FA has been criticized many times for its intention to choose foreign coaches.
However, the decision to appoint the German strategist pleased most of the "Three Lions" fans. Compared to English coaches, Tuchel is more highly regarded thanks to his clear football philosophy and tactical acumen. That helped the 51-year-old strategist impress and win many titles when leading teams in Germany, France and England.
However, football at the national team level is always different to that of the club. After successes with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, can Thomas Tuchel repeat the same and lead England to glory?
The Athletic has described the German as a "tactical chameleon" for his versatility in systems and formations throughout his managerial career since 2015. He does not have a preferred formation, preferring to adapt and get the most out of the players he has at his disposal. After failing to succeed with a back four at Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, Tuchel has largely used a 3-4-3 formation during his time at Chelsea.
Tuchel's style of play is all about control and domination, but also flexibility and pragmatism when necessary. This philosophy helped Chelsea win the Champions League thanks to their ability to control the ball and apply high pressure in midfield. The ball is concentrated in the central area with front-footed situations, where players with good technique can hold the ball and immediately apply pressure when losing possession. Meanwhile, the full-back duo of Reece James and Marcos Alonso or Ben Chilwell often play along the flanks to drag the opposition and make the most of the width of the pitch.
In Thomas Tuchel's only full season at Stamford Bridge, The Blues impressed with their ability to control the game and defend solidly. They approached the game slowly, proactively dominating possession right in the opponent's half. The tight formation distance always helped prevent early counter-attacks from the opponent if the ball was lost. This style of play helped Chelsea finish in 3rd place with the lowest goals conceded, shots on target and expected goals in the 2021-2022 Premier League, behind only champions Manchester City.
Tuchel's tactical system will help England defend more organised and structured against counter-attacks. Previously, England often had no clear plan and only prevented quick counter-attacks thanks to the speed of Kyle Walker.
Tuchel's tactical flexibility promises to help England solve the problem of maximizing the potential of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham. Not only that, the German strategist is also expected to revive Harry Kane after a series of ups and downs since EURO 2024. In the 2023-2024 season, Tuchel helped Kane play brilliantly at Bayern Munich with 44 goals in all competitions. Therefore, the England captain will certainly be a top priority in Tuchel's plan to build a new tactical system when leading the "Three Lions".
However, Tuchel’s football philosophy and tactics still have the same weaknesses as England under Gareth Southgate. Despite having the highest expected goals index in the Bundesliga last season (1.6 xG), Tuchel’s Bayern Munich still struggled and had to accept defeat against opponents who defended deep. This is also a similar problem to England at EURO 2024, when Southgate’s army often played deadlocked against disciplined and low-range defenses.
It is still too early to say whether Thomas Tuchel, who helped Chelsea reach the top of Europe, will repeat the same feat at England. However, his clear football philosophy and tactical acumen promise to help Tuchel bring a breath of fresh air to English football.
