Thomas Tuchel: England’s World Cup mastermind

Atlanta – Thomas Tuchel was hired as England manager with a simple brief: Win the 2026 World Cup.

So far, so good, as they prepare to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi-finals on July 15.

The German has overseen a largely happy camp, dancing with his players in the dressing room in Mexico City after their battling win against the co-hosts.

But his tone changed following the 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway on July 11, when he described his team as “lucky”.

“The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but I’m not happy with the performance,” he said.

That downbeat assessment drew a stinging retort from midfielder Jude Bellingham, who scored twice as England came from behind.

“Whatever, whatever,” said the Real Madrid star after a gruelling 120 minutes in the searing Miami heat.

The pair have a complicated history, but the exchange was a stark reminder that Tuchel will not shy away from speaking his mind.

The 52-year-old will not care that he has riled Bellingham, who has scored six goals and once again proved himself to be England’s man for the big moment.

The Football Association knew who it was getting when it hired the former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss to replace Gareth Southgate in 2024.

Southgate had reshaped the team during his largely successful tenure, breaking down barriers between players from rival clubs and forging a cohesive unit.

But his team never got over the line – defeated in the semi-finals in 2018 and quarter-finals in 2022 at the World Cup, and twice losing European Championship finals.

The blunt and charismatic Tuchel arrived as one of the big beasts of world football, with league titles at PSG and Bayern under his belt.

His crowning glory was Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League final win in Porto, where he outsmarted then Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Tuchel picked a team of “specialists” for the World Cup, raising eyebrows by leaving out a number of high-profile players, including Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He admitted he relished the pressure of making big decisions, as he was being grilled on his choices.

The Three Lions arrived in North America as one of the favourites and so far the England boss has got his big calls right.

Substitute Anthony Gordon set up both goals for Harry Kane as they came from behind to avoid an embarrassing defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 32.

In the following round, he threw on a clutch of defenders as his 10 men held out for a 3-2 win against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

One of the enduring images from the game in Mexico was of giant defender Dan Burn clearing the ball again and again as Tuchel’s team held firm, perfectly illustrating his ideal of a “brotherhood”.

Tuchel started his first international managerial job in January 2025 after signing an 18-month contract.

The German said at the start of his reign that his aim was to add a “second star” to go with the one that represents England’s sole World Cup success, in 1966.

He convinced his bosses that he was the man for the job and penned a new deal to lead the team to the Euro 2028 tournament in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

England have rarely hit the heights during the current tournament but have found a way each time and have made no secret of the fact they are here to win.

The next step is a tough test against a battle-hardened Argentina, before a potential final against France or Spain.

Tuchel is two games away from glory and ultimate vindication. AFP