Thomas Tuchel takes positives from scrappy England friendly draw against Uruguay
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
England's Ben White concedes a penalty against Uruguay's Federico Vinas, during their pre-World Cup friendly on March 27.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- England drew 1-1 with Uruguay after a late penalty, despite Ben White's earlier goal and mixed reception upon his return to the team.
- Germany beat Switzerland 4-3 in a friendly, with Florian Wirtz scoring twice. Germany will play in Group E, while Switzerland are in Group B at the World Cup.
- Spain defeated Serbia 3-0 with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, and Victor Munoz scoring on his debut. Netherlands edged Norway 2-1.
AI generated
LONDON – Thomas Tuchel said he had “learnt a lot” from England’s scrappy 1-1 friendly draw against Uruguay at Wembley on March 27, even though many of his star players were watching from the stands.
Ben White poked home in the 81st minute to give the home side the lead, but the Arsenal defender was adjudged to have fouled Federico Vinas after a VAR review, with Federico Valverde levelling from the spot in stoppage time.
England boss Tuchel, who named an expanded 35-man squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, trialled a variety of different players, with Everton midfielder James Garner and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford making their debuts.
The German insisted he had learnt valuable lessons ahead of the game against Japan on March 31 – England’s final match before the World Cup, which starts on June 11.
“I learnt a lot, because it was a tough opponent and you just see it in the details,” he said. “You learn a lot in the details, also the behaviour, and you see the level.
“If you play against (Manuel) Ugarte, if you play against (Federico) Valverde in midfield, you see the level.
“You play against the winners and these defensive players, it’s a high level and then you instantly see, so we needed this kind of test.”
Tuchel added that the match against Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, who have also qualified for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States, had been “the test that I expected”.
“It was a bit feisty and tough,” he said. “I knew from months ago that Bielsa called me and told me that they will take it very, very seriously and they will play the best possible team.
“You see in the way they did the substitutions, they were not ready to compromise on anything, so it was difficult. We had a lot of new players on the pitch, we had a very new formation, a very new XI who had never played with each other.
“But they were good in camp, and they were good today because I think they put the structure into life, they tried, they helped each other out and they tried to create.”
Apart from the game itself, Tuchel also admitted he was disappointed after England fans booed White on his return from a self-imposed international exile.
The 28-year-old endured a hostile reception when he came off the bench for an eventful second-half appearance.
The defender left the World Cup in Qatar four years ago during the knockout phase due to what the Football Association called “personal reasons”.
Reports later emerged of an alleged bust-up with assistant coach Steve Holland, something repeatedly denied by then manager Gareth Southgate, who revealed in 2024 that White had made himself unavailable for England.
“There were some boos and a mixed reception (for White) and of course I’m disappointed about that,” Tuchel said. “He has to take it on the chin and put it behind him because he is ready to write new chapters.”
In other friendlies, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz starred with two stunning goals and two assists as Germany edged neighbours Switzerland 4-3 in Basel.
The other two goals were scored by Jonathan Tah and Serge Gnabry.
Elsewhere, Mikel Oyarzabal also got two superb first-half goals and substitute Victor Munoz scored on his senior international debut as Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Serbia. AFP, REUTERS
