Pep Guardiola is out of work, after leaving Manchester City, but should his sudden availability concern England boss Thomas Tuchel - a man under pressure to deliver at the 2026 World Cup? Former Three Lions star Michael Owen has given two reasons to GOAL why a German tactician filling the most demanding of roles should not fret about the shadow cast by a highly-decorated Catalan coach.
Gary Lineker has admitted he found Thomas Tuchel's decision to omit Newcastle United star Lewis Hall from England's World Cup squad "hard to understand." The former Three Lions striker questioned safe-guarding certain defensive positions while overlooking a player who has excelled at left-back throughout the current Premier League campaign.
After 'thirty years of hurt' for the England national team, football was meant to come 'home' in 1996. And yet 30 years on, the Three Lions still haven't won a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup. Might the most infamous title drought in international football be about to come to an end, though? England qualified for this summer's World Cup by winning all of their matches and without conceding a single goal, meaning there's a legitimate sense of optimism surrounding Thomas Tuchel's team.
For England, the time for talk is almost over. Soon, all that will matter is the task at hand: Winning the 2026 World Cup. The Football Association (FA) and manager Thomas Tuchel have spoken forthrightly about that being their only objective in North America, and as the days tick down to the Three Lions getting their campaign underway, there is no reason to believe that they can't achieve their ultimate goal.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has urged Elliot Anderson to "stay humble" as the Nottingham Forest star continues to be linked with a British record move to Manchester City. The 23-year-old is expected to be a cornerstone of the Three Lions' midfield when they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia next week, and Tuchel doesn't want him to be distracted by transfer noise.
Thomas Tuchel has “done nothing” so far as England manager, Michael Owen has told GOAL, with World Cup “par” for the Three Lions being explained after breezing through another “waste of time” qualification campaign. Another bid for global glory is about to be opened, with the man calling shots from the dugout already being awarded a contract extension.
The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. Over the course of the next week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.
Thomas Tuchel has downplayed a moment of apparent friction between Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon during England's final World Cup warm-up match. The Real Madrid superstar appeared ready to take a second-half penalty before being told to hand the ball over to the Barcelona's new winger.
England have been waiting 60 years for football to “come home”, so could that finally happen in 2026? Michael Owen has told GOAL that a trophy will be secured at some point, with Thomas Tuchel considered to have taken inspiration from Sir Gareth Southgate as he endeavours to guide the Three Lions one stage further than his predecessor managed.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has declared his squad fully prepared for the upcoming World Cup following a comprehensive 3-0 warm-up victory over Costa Rica in Orlando. The German tactician praised the immense cohesion and team spirit within the camp as the Three Lions look to end their 60-year wait for global silverware.
Thomas Tuchel has urged his England players to remain focused after their final World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica was hit by severe weather disruption in Florida. The Three Lions saw their preparations thrown into chaos when a massive storm in Orlando forced a delay to their final outing before the tournament begins.
Former England defender Jamie Carragher expects Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham to be benched in favour of Aston Villa attacker Morgan Rogers at the upcoming World Cup. The pundit warned manager Thomas Tuchel that omitting such a high-profile figure could easily trigger a massive media storm and completely dominate the airwaves throughout the national team's tournament this summer.
It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a day away, with the best players on the planet descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has provided a crucial fitness update on Bukayo Saka ahead of the final World Cup warm-up clash against Costa Rica. The winger missed the recent victory over New Zealand following a gruelling, title-winning campaign with Arsenal, prompting the national team staff to carefully manage his minutes to ensure he is fully prepared.
John Terry has delivered a scathing assessment of Thomas Tuchel's England squad, claiming that nearly half of the 26-man group is not up to the standard required to win the World Cup. The former Three Lions captain believes the German manager has made critical errors by leaving several experienced stars at home ahead of the tournament in North America.
Thomas Tuchel has sent a clear message to Jude Bellingham, warning the Real Madrid superstar that his place in England’s starting XI is far from guaranteed. Despite his status as one of the world's elite talents, Bellingham faces stiff competition from Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for the coveted number 10 role heading into the World Cup.