MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ending decades of wait for second championship world cupEngland put her fate in the hands of the Germans.
it’s fair to say Appointment of Thomas Tuchel was not generally well received.
“It’s a shame that I have a German passport,” the former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager quipped at the official unveiling of the 2024 squad.
That morning, he woke up to unpleasant headlines in the British media.
The Daily Mail described it as a “dark day for England” and reported that the national team had bet on “the German”.
Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform Party, asked X: “Why can’t we have a British manager?”
don’t worry about that tuchel He was a Champions League winner and had lifted the trophy in three different countries. Or perhaps it’s the fact that England has so far followed an overseas path. Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is Swedish and Fabio Capello is Italian. A few days before Tuchel’s appointment as manager, there were rumors that manager Josep Guardiola was also a potential candidate.
historical rivalry
At issue was the fact that Germany had long been England’s biggest football rival. Since defeating West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, England have often struggled against Germany in major competitions. Some England fans brought 20th century history into the rivalry with provocative chants teasing Germany about World War II.
But any controversy over Tuchel’s nationality quickly evaporated thanks to his easy-going charm when speaking to the media and England’s perfect winning record in World Cup qualifiers.
Professor Jan Lüger, author of the forthcoming book Great Powers: A History of Britain and Germany, said the widespread reaction to Tuchel’s appointment signaled a shift in Anglo-German relations after the tensions that prevailed in the decades after the two world wars.
“There were questions, but it’s certainly not an ongoing story like it was in the 1990s or early 20th century,” Lueger told The Associated Press. “At that time it would have been unthinkable for us to have a German coach.
“Germany isn’t really the bad guy anymore. Those days are long gone. I don’t think it works to paint Germany as a bogeyman.”
England managers face intense criticism
Only time will tell whether Tuchel will be portrayed as a hero or a villain at the World Cup. If England fails, citizenship may be raised again. However, regardless of what their passports say, England’s previous managers have been the subject of harsh criticism from fans and the media.
Tuchel’s predecessor Gareth Southgate is widely recognized for his achievements. Making England fans fall in love again Despite being on the national team for eight years, he still faced difficulties. torrent of abuse During the 2024 European Championship, some supporters threw plastic beer glasses in his direction after one match.
Departing from Southgate In 2018, he led England to consecutive victories in the Euro finals and World Cup semi-finals.
He remains the country’s second most successful manager after Alf Ramsey, who led England to World Cup victory in 1966.
If Tuchel can end England’s trophy wait, he will become a national treasure.
“The whole team, the staff, everyone believes we can win,” midfielder Koby Mainu said.
difficult decision
Tuchel surprised some fans and players with his squad selection for the World Cup, leaving out big names such as Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This was proof that he is not influenced by public opinion that criticizes past coaches.
“Everything I know about international soccer is that teams win tournaments, not individuals,” he said. “What we are trying to accomplish this summer can only be accomplished as a team.”
Midfielder Jordan Henderson, 35, was one of the surprise additions.
“I know everyone wants to talk about players who aren’t here, but unfortunately every team in England is like that, really,” Henderson said. “We have a lot of great players and talent, but for us here as a team, it’s about coming together, it’s about being here for a reason, and it’s about bringing it, being the best version of ourselves, being the best version of ourselves individually and collectively, and striving every day to achieve our dreams.”
proven winner
Tuchel is now the 14th manager tasked with ending England’s 60-year trophy drought.
Following Southgate’s departure, the English Football Association announced it was looking for a candidate who would “win a major tournament”. It may sound obvious, but even coaches who won big awards with their clubs, such as Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, Eriksson and Capello, were unable to emulate their success in England.
Southgate came closer than anyone since Ramsey, despite having had a modest coaching career before taking up international duty.
His success seemed to be based on building connections both within the team and with supporters. As a former player who missed a penalty in the semi-final penalty shoot-out loss to Germany at Euro 1996, his emotional understanding of what it means to represent England seems to have resonated with a new generation.
As a foreign manager, Tuchel cannot bring the same dynamic to the role, although he has experience coaching Chelsea in the Premier League.
However, he fits the description of a major tournament winner and led Chelsea to the Champions League in 2021. He was also a Champions League finalist with Paris Saint-Germain.
He won league titles with PSG in France and Bayern Munich in Germany.
With three of the biggest stars in European football in Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, they felt they had enough talent at their disposal even without the likes of Foden and Palmer.
“I love hard decisions, I love tough decisions, because it gives you clarity in the end, it gives you a certain edge, and you need that to go all the way,” Tuchel said. “From day one, we said we would always try to select and build the best group, but that might not necessarily mean just bringing together the best talent.”
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
