Harry Kane to remain England captain, all players have clean slate under Thomas Tuchel
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Incoming England manager Thomas Tuchel leaving Fifa's headquarters in Switzerland, after the preliminary draw for the 2026 World Cup on Dec 13.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Harry Kane will remain England captain when Thomas Tuchel takes charge in January, the German said on Dec 13, signalling that all the players can count on a clean slate when the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign starts under his management.
The Three Lions were pitted against Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in Group K during the draw – which was Tuchel’s first engagement as England boss – in Zurich, Switzerland.
He was announced as manager in October, but will begin work on Jan 1 ahead of the World Cup qualifying competition.
“There is no need to think about change,” said Tuchel, who brought Kane from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in 2023 when he was in charge of the German giants.
“Harry was always a top captain for England. So why do you even think about it at the moment?
“You cross the river when you cross the river. First, come January, we will be in touch with everyone and get the feeling for St George’s Park and also the players. And until March, there’s still a lot of football to be played and then we will try to find the best group for the games that await.”
The 51-year-old Tuchel suggested that he would act independently of former manager Gareth Southgate’s choices, building a team of his own with all players able to count on a clean slate.
One of the players who can expect a chat is Arsenal defender Ben White, who did not want to be considered for selection after surprisingly leaving the squad during the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons.
“I will reach out to him,” Tuchel said. “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative.”
White, who has made only four friendly appearances for England, was rumoured to have personal issues with Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland, which the former manager later denied.
“It starts from January,” Tuchel added. “I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players and they should just know, ‘Okay, the boss is there from January.’
“Then I will of course try to speak to them but also be respectful to the schedule that they have, because the schedule is busy in January, especially in the Premier League.”
England were placed in a five-team group, meaning qualifiers will begin in late March and continue in June, as opposed to a September start for groups of four.
That signifies a fast start for Tuchel, who will embark on his England journey less than three months before the qualifying begins and make his managerial debut for the Three Lions just 15 months ahead of the 2026 tournament.
“I like the framework, the narrative,” the German said. “I like it to start when the World Cup qualification starts, to have it as you kick off and to go from there.
“It gives clarity in the (selection process) and clarity in... how we speak to each other and where we want to go. No distractions. We will be ready.”
To aid him, Tuchel said he plans to speak to Southgate and Lee Carsley, to whom England turned on an interim basis following Southgate’s departure after Euro 2024.
Southgate ended his eight-year reign after England lost 2-1 to Spain in the Euro final, with Carsley leading the Three Lions to Nations League promotion while the search for a new boss was under way. The Football Association eventually settled on former Chelsea manager Tuchel, who signed an 18-month contract.
After Southgate led England to two successive runners-up finishes at the European Championship, Tuchel will be expected to take the Three Lions on a serious challenge for their first major title since the 1966 World Cup at home.
Southgate’s intel on the players Tuchel will inherit could be vital and, speaking at the World Cup qualifying draw, he revealed his intention to speak to his predecessor.
“He’s a gentleman,” Tuchel told Sky Sports News.
“We met before when I was at Chelsea and it was a pleasure to talk to him, and why shouldn’t I meet him again?”
He will also hold talks in January with Carsley, who has returned to his previous role as England Under-21 coach.
“We will work from January at St George’s Park and I hope it will become very regular that we will meet and very normal that we meet,” he said.
“Of course we will exchange ideas because I’m interested in his point of view about the squad selection for the games, about the potential in the group and how he felt about the group and the experiences. He is the U-21 coach, so he will be very, very close to me and we have enough time from January.” REUTERS, AFP
