December 13th 2024.
At the World Cup qualifying draw on Friday, Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea boss, was present in Zurich and discovered England's fate. Tuchel's German compatriot, Rudi Voller, couldn't resist teasing him about his attire, specifically the England tie he was wearing. Tuchel, who doesn't officially begin his work until next month, jokingly warned England fans not to get used to seeing him in a tie.
As the draw unfolded, Tuchel reflected on the teams that stand between England and a place in the tournament jointly hosted by USA and Mexico. He expressed his respect for Serbia and Albania, noting their history of technical football and emotional players. Tuchel also highlighted the fact that these two teams have two very famous ex-players as coaches, making them formidable opponents.
The draw also revealed that England would be facing Latvia for the first time, something that Tuchel sees as a new experience for everyone involved. Despite being considered the huge favorites, Tuchel emphasized the importance of taking each opponent seriously and with respect in order to secure their spot in the tournament.
Moving on to the actual draw, England was placed in Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, and Latvia. Tuchel acknowledged their favorable position as group favorites but stressed that their focus should be on qualifying before they can start dreaming about winning the World Cup.
Aside from the draw, Tuchel's attire also caught the attention of Voller, a former World Cup winner and now Germany's team director. When asked about his England tie, Tuchel jokingly replied that it won't be his look on the sidelines once he officially starts working. He explained that he needs more freedom to move around during games, but for the occasion, the tie felt appropriate.
The conversation then shifted to Tuchel's plans for his upcoming work with England. He revealed that he will be based at St George's Park, their training base, and will be actively engaging with other staff members from the FA. Tuchel also shared that he will be attending a lot of matches, watching the players live and speaking with them, but also being careful not to interfere too much as they are still players of their respective clubs.
As for the 2026 World Cup, Tuchel confirmed that the tournament will start on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and end on July 19 in New Jersey. This will be the first time that the tournament will feature 48 teams, with 12 four-team groups and a last-32 knockout round. When asked if he will be permanently based in England from January onwards, Tuchel joked that he wouldn't reveal his address to avoid fans camping outside his house every week. However, he did mention that he will be at St George's Park a lot and will be seen in stadiums watching matches as he prepares for the World Cup campaign.
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