Qudus SalihuOne England player has impressed fans in training.
England fans are pleading with Thomas Tuchel to play one player in his ‘correct position’ after new training footage emerged.
Tuchel will take charge of his first match as Three Lions manager on Friday, when England host Albania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
The German’s starting XI selection is one of the most eagerly-anticipated in recent memory after he named his 26-man squad for the matches against Albania and Latvia.
There are plenty of familiar faces in the setup, with Jordan Henderson among those recalled to add further experience to the ranks.
On the other end of the scale, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Morgan Rogers and Tino Livramento are among those hoping to earn the first of what they hope will be many Three Lions caps.
There will also be much intrigue about Manchester City star Phil Foden.
The attacking midfielder has not found consistent form for England for a considerable amount of time, with previous boss Gareth Southgate often preferring to utilise him on the left side of attack.
Foden has also been used on the right and in a slightly deeper midfield role, as well as his favoured number 10 position.
And after seeing footage of the City star in training, fans are desperate for Tuchel to deploy Foden in what they say to be his ‘correct’ position if he does get the nod to start on Friday.
The footage shows Foden and fellow midfielder Eberechi Eze attempting keepie-uppies before launching long passes to each other on the volley. At the end of the clip, Foden curls an effort into the bottom corner of the net.
Reacting to the clip, posted on TikTok, one fan wrote: “Just play Foden in his correct position.”
A second said: “Foden is just too technical.”
And a third added: “Foden is underrated, one season can’t change the fact he is a star.”
A fourth wrote: “Foden and Eze are playing like they’re Brazilian.”
John Lowe hits first televised nine-darter
Another, meanwhile, took a slightly different view: “Put Foden in that Spain team and you will see a serious player.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, England, Fan Reactions
Ryan Smart
England star who Thomas Tuchel branded ‘unprofessional’ reveals brutal comment new boss made in first training session
Thomas Tuchel made a brutal comment following his first England training session.
An England star who Thomas Tuchel jokingly branded ‘unprofessional’ has revealed the brutal comment the new boss made during their first training session.
Tuchel takes charge of his first England game on Friday when the Three Lions host Albania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium.
He replaced Gareth Southgate, who stepped down from his position following Euro 2024.
And ahead of leading England into a new chapter, he aimed a dig at his predecessor in a pre-match interview.
Tuchel has named his squad for England’s World Cup qualifiers, with Newcastle United defender Dan Burn earning a shock call-up.
Burn, who scored in his side’s Carabao Cup triumph over Liverpool last weekend, sat down with fellow uncapped star Myles Lewis-Skelly and Arsenal‘s Declan Rice for a piece for England’s official YouTube account.
Speaking to Lewis-Skelly and Rice, Burn revealed the ruthless comment Tuchel made during a private exchange.
“He was so relaxed… makes it easier. Everything I’ve had so far has been pretty good,” he began.
Burn then recalled his conversation with Tuchel following a training session.
“I was in the lift with him yesterday after training… I remember watching training and thinking, ‘wow that is sharp’,” he said, before revealing what Tuchel said to him. “I was like; ‘How was training? Yeah, it’s good, make sure you don’t bring the standard down too much’.”
Lewis-Skelly burst out laughing while Rice added: “I love that!”
Burn joked: “He’s got a point to be fair… just makes him more relaxed.”
Dan Burn during an England training session. Image: Getty
During a press conference on Tuesday, Burn also revealed he jokingly apologised to Tuchel for answering a phone call past 10pm.
“The manager FaceTimed us on Tuesday and said that they were debating calling us (me) up, and would let us know on Thursday,” he said.
“Then it got to six o’clock Thursday night, (I had) not heard anything so I said to my wife, ‘nothing’s going to happen’.
“I got a text saying ‘are you still awake’ at 10. I was like yes, straight away.
“First of all, he said I was very unprofessional for not being in bed for 10 o’clock, so I apologised for that.”
Burn has played 36 games across all competitions for Newcastle this season ahead of potentially making his England debut.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, England, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Thomas Tuchel immediately rips up Gareth Southgate plan during first day of England training
Tuchel made a significant change at St George’s Park on his first day of England training.
Thomas Tuchel has immediately altered a key Gareth Southgate principle at St George’s Park on his first day with the England squad.
The German boss will take charge of the Three Lions for the first time on Friday, when England take on Albania at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier.
International duty started on Monday at St James’ Park when each member of Tuchel‘s 26-man squad reported to St George’s Park at midday.
They included Newcastle pair Dan Burn and Tino Livramento – who had been celebrating their side’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool the day prior.
That kickstarted a changed plan to the one that Southgate used each time he ran international camps from the elite training facilities.
The Daily Mirror report that, while the former England boss would run training sessions in the morning, Tuchel is now running sessions in the afternoon instead.
Image: Twitter/@England
One of the main reasons for doing this, it is claimed, is to better replicate match conditions on Friday and Tuesday, when England face Albania and Latvia in 7:45pm kick-offs.
Tuchel will instead use the morning period to have one-to-one meetings with players and ‘have get-togethers with the whole squad’.
It is noted that the German has ‘flipped the schedule’ rather than making significant alterations, which will help to provide some continuity from the old regime into the new one.
Tuchel has made several coaching appointments ahead of the first training camp, with his former Chelsea coach Anthony Barry joining the England setup as assistant manager.
Brentford head of coaching Justin Cochrane has also joined the coaching staff, while former Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario has been appointed as goalkeeping coach.
Some of Southgate’s entourage have remained in their roles, but England players will largely get to work with new faces over the course of their international camps at St George’s Park.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, England, Gareth Southgate
Ryan Smart
Thomas Tuchel has kept promise he made to England star after telling him he’d have ‘helped team win Euro 2024’
Thomas Tuchel’s promise to an England player has been kept ahead of his first game in charge of The Three Lions.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has kept a promise he made to one of his players ahead of his first game in charge of the Three Lions.
Tuchel officially started his tenure boss as England manager at the start of 2025 and will take charge of his first game on Friday when they host Albania in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.
Having replaced Gareth Southgate and followed on from Lee Carsley’s spell as interim manager, Tuchel has already put his own stamp on the side with his selections.
Although he has given first call-ups to Dan Burn and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tuchel has brought a number of players back into the fold – including the experienced Jordan Henderson.
But Marcus Rashford also finds himself back in the national team fold after being well out of contention.
In the mix at both Euro 2020 and the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Rashford was not included in Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad and his last appearance for England came against Brazil just under a year ago.
He was made surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and after continually being left out of matchday squads over a perceived poor level in training, in January Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old has been given a new lease of life under Unai Emery, registering four assists in all competitions and looking like his old self once again.
It was enough for him to join Villa colleagues Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa in the England squad but it appears as though Rashford was always destined to make a return under Tuchel.
In November, a month after Tuchel was announced as manager, it was reported by The Sun that the former Chelsea boss reached out to Rashford and told him he had an important role to play under him.
Marcus Rashford is back in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. Image: Getty
It was also claimed he felt as though Rashford not going to the Euros was a mistake and teams found them much easier to play against as a result.
A source is said to have told the newspaper: “Tuchel contacted Marcus and his representatives and told them he saw Marcus as an essential part of the England squad.
“He said he believed a big part of England’s failure to win Euro 2024 was not having Marcus as an option.
“Other teams fear his abilities and Tuchel said he believed without Rashford, England didn’t offer a strong attacking threat on the left and that made them easier to play against as a lot of the ball came down the right.
“Tuchel is a huge admirer of Marcus. It’s a great boost for him and another encouragement to try and get back to his best.”
Tuchel fires subtle dig at Gareth Southgate
Hours before his first game at the helm, Tuchel appeared to have a dig at Southgate’s approach at Euro 2024, where England got to the final but were beaten 2-1 by Spain in Berlin.
And while England have made stride forwards in major tournaments in recent times, Tuchel highlighted where they went wrong.
“They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it,” Tuchel told ITV about the Euros.
He added that the missing piece for England was “excitement”.
England host Albania in Tuchel’s first game at Wembley on Friday, before returning to the national stadium to take on Latvia on Monday.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, England
Josh Lawless
Thomas Tuchel announces first England squad as several surprise picks leave fans stunned
Tuchel has named his first England squad.
Thomas Tuchel has announced his first England squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia – and several surprise names have been included.
The Three Lions kick off their qualification campaign by facing Albania on March 23, before taking on Latvia at March 26. Both fixtures will be held at Wembley.
Tuchel signed an 18-month contract to become England manager in October, before officially taking the role on January 1. He has now named his first squad selection, consisting of 26 players.
The squad is no doubt headlined by the recall of Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has been preferred to the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson.
The 34-year-old hasn’t played for England in over a year, and his international career appeared to be over after he was left out of the Euro 2024 squad by Gareth Southgate.
As reported on Friday morning by The Athletic, Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford has been recalled to the squad – almost a year since his last cap in a friendly match against Brazil.
Rashford last played for England in a friendly against Brazil in March 2024 (Image: Getty)
His club team-mate Morgan Rogers is also included for the first time, while Newcastle’s Dan Burn also receives a maiden call-up.
Another new face to the squad is Arsenal wonderkid Myles Lewis-Skelly, who has been fast-tracked into the first team setup after an impressive season with the Gunners.
Kyle Walker, on loan at AC Milan from Manchester City, retains his place from November’s Nations League squad in what may be considered as a surprise choice, alongside Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah.
Jack Grealish has been left out, however, while Ben White has also not been included.
The Arsenal defender made himself unavailable for previous squads before then holding talks with Tuchel, but that absence appears to have done little to help him to return to the fold.
Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad in full
The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
- Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
- Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton)
- James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders
- Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
- Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
- Reece James (Chelsea)
Reece James hasn’t played for England since March 2023 (Image: Getty)
- Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
- Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
- Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)
- Kyle Walker (AC Milan, on loan from Manchester City)
Midfielders
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
- Jordan Henderson (Ajax)
Jordan Henderson returns to the England squad (Image: Getty)
- Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards
- Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, on loan from Manchester United)
- Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Thomas Tuchel, England
Ryan Smart
Qudus Salihu
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