'I have to earn the right' - Thomas Tuchel insists he will not sing national anthem immediately as he prepares to make bow as England manager

The Thomas Tuchel era in the England national team is all set to begin next week as they face Albania in a World Cup qualifying game next Friday. Earlier this week, the German coach announced his first-ever England squad where Newcastle United's Dan Burn earned his maiden national team call up. Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford also returned to the national team set up alongside Premier League-winning former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

Before managing the Three Lions for the first time, ex-Chelsea boss revealed that he does not intend to sing the English anthem. Speaking to reporters, Tuchel said: "I think first of all, you have a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem, and I could not be more proud to be on the sideline and be in charge of the English national team. It means everything. It means a lot to me, I can assure you.

"But I can feel, because it is that meaningful, and it is that emotional, and it is so powerful, the national anthem, that I have to earn my right to sing it. I feel that it is not just a given. You cannot just sing it. That’s why I decided that I will not sing it in my first matches."

The 51-year-old added: "I will earn it with results, with building a group, with doing my job properly. And by creating a feeling where maybe even you guys say at some point: ‘now it’s time that you sing it, it feels like you properly earned it and you’re a proper English guy now!’ Maybe I have to dive more into the culture and earn my right from you, from the players, from the supporters. So everyone feels like ‘he should sing it now, he’s one of our own, he’s the English manager, he should sing it.’"

After hosting Albania on Friday, Harry Kane and Co will next take on Latvia in their second World Cup qualifying match on March 24.