Thomas Tuchel reveals England tactic for World Cup - and it's borrowed from another sport
Thomas Tuchel says England will need their own “Pom squad” at next year’s World Cup. It is a new catchphrase in rugby where the coach makes a raft of late attacking substitutions to go out and win the game.
Tuchel says it will be impossible for any team to stick with the same starting XI throughout the whole of next summer’s tournament which could be played in 40 degree heat across the United States, Mexico and Canada. England boss Tuchel is clearly working towards that plan as he gave a taste of what is to come when he brought on Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze in the closing stages of their 2-0 win over Serbia at Wembley on Thursday.
Tuchel believes being able to bring on fast, fresh forwards to win games will be even more important next year and the key to success could be more about the finishers than the starters. Star players may not like being substitutes but Tuchel says it could be even more important for England because so many have endured long, hard gruelling seasons in the Premier League.
Tuchel said: “We need a good bench, we play in 40 degrees and we will play after a long, long season, we are maybe the nation that suffers the most from international football, from long seasons, from two cups, from cup finals, from semi-finals. We 100 per cent we need to be ready to do substitutions until hopefully the late stages of the World Cup.
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“Once we go to a tournament, I think clarity in the role is very important. The better player can also think about it and be honest: ‘Can I accept this, is it good for me, can I make the most of this for the team?’”
Tuchel has already warned that Harry Kane, Bellingham and Foden cannot all start together in his current England set-up and formation. That means at least one of his biggest stars will miss out and there is still Eze, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer to think about squeezing into the squad. He even had the difficult task of telling Bournemouth’s Alex Scott he was not even in the match day squad to face Serbia.
Even Tuchel admits it will be tough because to go from being the biggest star or main man for their clubs to the bench with England could be seen as a dent to their ego. But it is also the key to success. Tuchel said: “They come with England because they are regularly picked, they come because they are captains and key players in their club team.
“Then I tell my squad and 10 of them have to sit on the bench but you see already I normally pick only pick only 21 of 23 because I just hate this talk to give yesterday Alex Scott the message ‘you are not in the squad.’ I don’t like it, I have stomach pain and even to see players on the bench, they will never like it but I strongly believe they will accept it. We need to have the roles clear.
“Once we go to a tournament - what is your role? I think in a ten day camp it is easy. Sometimes you are picked, sometimes you are not picked or you are the competition for someone who at the moment maybe has his nose ahead and he starts regularly. I think that is normal.”
FIFA have yet to confirm the size of squads but it is likely to be 26 with an expanded 48-team tournament and also the conditions. Tuchel would welcome a review of his many substitutes and how many sub slots could be used.
Tuchel added: “Good question I think we will not get another number so quickly out of Fifa. We have to adapt with five, and think outside the box and maybe worship even the extra slot we have at half-time. We maybe can have one or two changes at half-time to get another slot for the changes in the second half.”
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