Tuchel’s England Analysed: Are They Ready for the World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England manager is still in its early stages, with only a handful of games under his belt. However, the recent 5-0 victory against Serbia offered a tantalizing glimpse of what this team is capable of. With the World Cup looming, Tuchel faces the considerable task of solidifying his optimal starting eleven and refining his tactical approach in a compressed timeframe.
So, what insights can we glean from his brief time in charge? This analysis will delve into Tuchel’s strategic vision for the England squad, exploring their strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
Early Impressions: A Mixed Bag
Tuchel’s England boasts a perfect record in World Cup qualifiers, securing five wins without conceding a single goal. Yet, a friendly defeat against Senegal (3-1), despite fielding a reasonably strong lineup, served as a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done.
Prior to the dominant display against Serbia, fan sentiment was divided. While the results were positive, there was a lingering sense that England hadn’t quite asserted the dominance expected of a team with their talent pool. However, a consistent set of principles has emerged throughout this period, with each game serving as an opportunity for refinement and improvement.
What are these underlying tactical principles, and how well do they position England for success at the World Cup?
Tuchel’s Tactical Flexibility
Under Tuchel, England has primarily adopted a 4-4-1-1 formation. However, their shape in possession is far more fluid, transitioning between various structures like a 2-3-5, a 3-2-5, and even a 2-1-7 against Serbia. The full-backs play a crucial role in these transitions.
The 3-2-5, for instance, sees one full-back slotting into a back three alongside the two centre-backs. This configuration offers an advantage when building out from the back against specific opposition presses, with the additional player creating an extra passing outlet. When shifting to a 2-3-5, Tuchel typically utilizes both full-backs on either side of a defensive midfielder.
This adjustment allows the second central midfielder, often Morgan Rogers or Curtis Jones, to push higher up the pitch. Concurrently, it ensures that central areas behind the ball are patrolled by capable defenders, providing both structural integrity and individual defensive prowess.
Against Serbia, England showcased a more aggressive build-up approach. The central defensive pairing of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, along with midfielder Elliot Anderson positioned in front of them, shouldered the primary responsibility for initiating attacks. Throughout the game, both full-backs and Declan Rice rotated positions, adding another layer of unpredictability.
Reece James’ positioning in the build-up phase was particularly noteworthy. He often maintained a wider stance compared to Tuchel’s previous utilization of full-backs. By deploying both James and Noni Madueke in wide areas, England aimed to force Serbia into committing additional players to these flanks.
This strategy created an overload on the wings, stretching Serbia’s midfield three if they committed defensively. Conversely, if Serbia failed to provide adequate coverage, England could progress down the right flank with relative ease. This tactic of employing double width proves particularly effective against teams that maintain a compact central defensive structure.
Unleashing Harry Kane
Another method for advancing the ball upfield, without sacrificing defensive cover, involves key players dropping deep to receive possession. Harry Kane, much like he did under Gareth Southgate, frequently drops deep from his attacking midfield or striker position to become an option for his defenders.
This movement creates space in the central areas, allowing teammates to exploit the gaps left behind when Kane draws opposition centre-backs out of position. Runs from deep-lying players, including full-backs like Myles Lewis-Skelly, have proven effective in capitalizing on this space.
In the match against Serbia, Kane was observed operating in central midfield positions, with Madueke, Anthony Gordon, and Rogers making penetrating runs into the vacated spaces from wider areas.
Tuchel has repeatedly emphasized the importance of off-the-ball movement, urging players to run in behind defenses to stretch the backline, create openings for teammates, and create opportunities to receive through balls in goal-scoring positions.
Taking Calculated Risks
Tuchel has instilled a greater willingness to take risks and play with attacking intent. As mentioned, the manager emphasizes off-the-ball running. England has shown a higher propensity to play direct passes from deeper positions, aiming to quickly find attackers making runs in behind.
Under previous management, England often adopted a more conservative approach in games where they dominated possession. Tuchel’s England aims to control the ball but is unafraid to attempt riskier, longer passes to generate higher-quality scoring chances.
Tuchel affords his wingers considerable responsibility, frequently creating scenarios where they are isolated one-on-one against their opposing full-back. He expects them to leverage their individual brilliance to create scoring opportunities, moving away from strictly pre-planned routines. So far, Madueke has excelled in this regard, displaying the kind of confidence and attacking flair that England has lacked since Raheem Sterling’s decline in form.
Breaking the Golden Generation Curse
England has historically struggled to seamlessly integrate all of their best players into a cohesive starting eleven. Past managers have often attempted to shoehorn players into the lineup, often to the detriment of the team’s overall balance.
The selections of Anderson and Madueke over more established players, if sustained, represent a positive step forward.
Tuchel prioritizes selecting players who align with his tactical vision and excel in their preferred positions on the field. Both wingers possess a natural inclination to make runs in behind. Rogers demonstrates a keen eye for goal and the stamina to compensate for Kane’s relative lack of pace. All three players deployed behind the Bayern Munich striker are well-suited to capitalize on his exceptional passing ability.
Gordon thrives on attacking open spaces and inverting closer to goal. Pairing him with his Newcastle teammate, Tino Livramento, who is adept at overlapping on the left, represents a smart tactical choice.
International football presents unique challenges. With limited time to implement tactical strategies and foster seamless partnerships, Tuchel’s approach of utilizing players familiar with one another from their domestic teams is intelligent. Livramento finds great connection with Gordon on the left wing, while former Chelsea teammates James and Madueke are a natural fit on the right flank.
Pragmatic Set-Pieces
England is adopting a more direct style of play, empowering their exciting wingers to showcase their talents. However, Tuchel also recognizes the importance of pragmatic solutions, particularly in the form of long throws.
Following a recent press conference, he remarked, the long throw-in is back. This statement aligns with the observed increase in long throws during the Premier League season, averaging 3.2 per game – a significant rise from 1.52 the previous season.
When facing teams that adopt a deep defensive posture, scoring the opening goal becomes paramount in forcing them to venture out and create space for attacking opportunities.
Utilizing throw-in situations as set-pieces provides teams with an additional chance to break the deadlock, requiring careful attention and preparation.
Clever free-kick and corner routines are also crucial, and it is evident that Tuchel and his coaching staff have prioritized these aspects of their system.
The opening goal against Serbia, resulting from a well-executed corner, significantly altered the game’s dynamic.
Serbia adopted a zonal marking system for the corner, with players assigned to specific zones. Following Rice’s out-swinging cross, the Serbian defenders were drawn towards the ball. Yet, the positioning of English players in front of the Serbians hindered their ability to reach the ball. Kane, positioned deeper, capitalized on the situation and scored uncontested.
It was a calculated and effective play, with England attempting the same routine earlier in the game before successfully converting it.
Defensive Resilience
Given the nature of the games played thus far, defensive tactics haven’t been spotlighted, as England have largely dominated possession and sought to win the ball back quickly when dispossessed. However, in moments when opponents have launched counter-attacks, the defensive unit has generally acquitted themselves well, largely due to the standout performances of Guehi and Rice. While looking vulnerable to Senegal, the side generally performs well.
England’s vulnerability against Senegal, leading to conceded chances and goals, often arose when their opponents managed to maintain possession.
Senegal effectively bypassed England’s 4-4-2 shape by circulating the ball across their backline before advancing it upfield, often on Kane’s side. Despite his contributions in possession, Kane proved to be a weak link defensively, struggling to track back and challenge advancing defenders.
England’s defensive shape wasn’t particularly deep, focusing on blocking space closer to the centre of the pitch. However, they failed to apply sufficient pressure to Senegal’s defenders on the ball, allowing them to find quick attackers running in behind England’s defense.
This direct attacking style, exploiting England’s defensive setup with quick attackers, may be a tactic that more technically proficient sides will attempt to replicate if England’s defensive approach remains consistent.
Final Verdict: How Good Are They?
While questions remain about England’s ability to handle sustained pressure from top-tier teams, Tuchel’s England has laid a solid foundation.
The England manager has effectively integrated a diverse group of players, carefully considering their profiles and fostering balance and chemistry within the squad. He aims to optimize marginal gains, increasing the likelihood of England scoring in tight, crucial matches, while broadly encouraging an attacking style that embraces more risk than previous England teams.
With several key players still to return to the squad, Tuchel has the opportunity to further solidify his tactical approach. If he can reintegrate these players while maintaining the core principles he has already established, England possesses the potential to achieve significant success this summer.
