Thomas Tuchel made his debut as England manager at Wembley Stadium, stepping onto the pitch with a banner welcoming him to the "Home of Football." His debut as manager was filled with encouraging signs. This was especially the case in a way that would surely have made the former Chelsea manager feel right at home. Having endorsed a self professed “win now mentality” for the club, Tuchel will be hopeful to find out even more about his new squad. He certainly has a pretty good understanding of their potential.
The new manager’s philosophy, which has pressed and counter-pressed through their ranks, was already obvious when his new team enjoyed 81% possession at home to Albania. England played the most passes in a first half than any other team since data started being tracked. The team followed this display of altruism with a touch of ruthlessness too, banging in two goals to win comfortably. Players like Declan Rice, Curtis Jones, Kyle Walker, and Jude Bellingham set the tone with a sharp, aggressive approach off the ball.
While Tuchel displayed confidence and humor throughout the match, as noted by Declan Rice, he did not shy away from showing frustration when things did not go according to plan. Phil Foden's performance in the first half drew Tuchel's ire, causing him to turn his back in frustration toward the bench. Following the match, Tuchel heavily criticized two players, signalling his readiness to shoulder accountability and make difficult decisions.
"Individually, we can have more impact from the wingers," said Tuchel, reflecting on the game's shortcomings.
Tuchel’s eye for talent was evident as he gave first appearances to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn. After an extraordinary first goal, joint-manager Thomas Tuchel described Lewis-Skelly as a “new hero.” While doing so, he gave kudos to Burn for his strong performance by pointing out that the player was “dominant in both boxes.”
"Both of our wingers were not as impactful as normally they can be, as they normally are in club football," said Tuchel, emphasizing areas for improvement.
Even with these critiques, Tuchel’s squad was brimming with encouraging attacking signs. So you can imagine Pulisic’s shock, when he was largely silent during the opening half. He came alive every time England’s press forced an error from Albania. This tactic is very much in keeping with Tuchel’s focus on instilling a high workrate and organisation to his side.
Tuchel’s tactical brilliance proved decisive in his first match. The players took his adjustments and instructions in stride and turned into a consummate defensive powerhouse that dictated the pace of the game. His capacity for quick adaptation and talent evaluation bodes well for a surging trajectory for the Cowboys moving forward under his stewardship.
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