Thomas Tuchel press conference LIVE: New England manager says ‘I’m sorry I have a German passport’

New England boss Thomas Tuchel apologised for having a German passport but insisted he was ready to prove wrong the critics who are against a foreign coach taking charge.

The 51-year-old, who said he has not yet decided whether he would sing the national anthem, has signed an 18-month contract and stressed his focus was to get over the line in a major tournament after several near-misses under predecessor Gareth Southgate.

Tuchel, who has previously managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, is the third non-Englishman to hold the post after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

Gary Lineker said: “It is just one last step isn’t it? They made a couple of finals under Gareth Southgate so were knocking on the door.

“There is no question that England have the quality needed to challenge for trophies and the upcoming World Cup. They have the ability throughout.

“Sometimes if you keep knocking on the door then it might just open, and I have no doubt it will with this England squad. Whether that is in 18 months’ time or over three years that remains to be seen. It is just about belief so hopefully Tuchel can instil that in them. They should have that because they are so talented.

“He will have difficulties and problems because sometimes having that much talent can be an issue for you. He is going to have to try and keep super high-quality players happy when they are not always playing as he can’t play them all.

“But he is very demanding and driven. He has very good tactical acumen. There is no question that England will be one of the favourites going into the next World Cup.”

Gary Neville also explained that the appointment of Thomas Tuchel speaks of a failing at St. George’s Park to properly prepare and promote English coaches at home and in Europe.

He acknowledged that Tuchel is a great coach but admitted to being disappointed that there wasn’t an equally great English coach available to replace Gareth Southgate.

Neville told Sky Sports: “There is an element of disappointment in my head thinking about the fact that the FA have gone to an international coach.

“I was a sceptic of St. George’s Park, I was with England under Roy Hodgson when England moved there. I was worried whether it would succeed or not. What you can’t deny over the last seven or eight years is the relative success of the England teams right the way through the youth teams to the women’s team to the men’s team getting to two finals which hasn’t happened for 50/60 years.

“If we’re not going to promote English coaches in out own country then we can’t ask anybody to promote English coaching either in the Premier League or leagues around Europe. It’s been a difficult time for English coaches over a 15-20 year period to try and gain some reputational success in Europe.

“I think Gareth [Southgate] restored a bit of faith, not just in English coaching but in English players. What the FA have done doesn’t feel like a strategic decision, it feels like an instinctive one. Thomas Tuchel has been available for months and there was no need to appoint an interim in Lee Carsley if they want Tuchel months ago.”

When Thomas Tuchel sat down with the Football Association over the last week, there was one detail that weighed over everything. That was simply to win the 2026 World Cup. That was the huge attraction of the job for him. That was the primary impetus for the FA.

It was obviously about so much more than Lee Carsley’s defeat to Greece last week, given that Tuchel had already signed his contract at that point. It was as early as 8 October. The FA certainly did will to keep the story under wraps in quite an old-fashioned way. The German’s own existing interest in the job also increased once it became clear that Manchester United were not going to move off Erik ten Hag any time soon.

A narrative could be formed about how the Old Trafford hierarchy has let another manager, who could have been the right man, go, but there is a grander storyline to this. England have certainly made a statement with this appointment, even if it says a few different things about the national game.

Loser:

Conor Gallagher

Gallagher struggled for England during the Euros in the summer when asked to fill an unfamiliar role in midfield.

Thomas Tuchel was at Chelsea when Gallagher was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace, a club he starred for during the 2021-22 season.

But that history could count against the midfielder, who was sold to Atletico Madrid by Chelsea in a bid to boost their finances.

Winner:

Marcus Rashford

The Manchester United forward has not been a part of any England squad since he was left out of the provisional squad for Euro 2024 in the summer.

Rashford netted 17 goals in 60 matches for England but in recent months has struggled for form for his club, and has scored four times this season, of which two came against League One side Barnsley.

A new manager may offer Rashford a chance in the prospect of a reset, but his club form would likely have to improve before he is considered for selection.

Loser:

Harry Maguire

Maguire made more than 60 appearances for Southgate’s England, but missed the most recent Euros with a calf injury.

He was relied upon by Southgate to do a role alongside John Stones, but he will be well into his 30s by the time the 2026 World Cup comes around, and could find himself out in the cold with the new manager.

Winner:

Cole Palmer

Ahead of the most recent international matches, the Chelsea winger had only started in two of his nine international caps. But a new manager could offer him an opportunity to cement a spot in the starting XI.

Although the pair never overlapped during Tuchel’s spell in charge of Chelsea, it will be interesting to see how the German manages the young England star who has been so significant to his former side.

Loser:

Jordan Pickford

Pickford has been England’s undisputed number one under Southgate, and has a strong record for the national side.

However, Dean Henderson was called up for the match against Finland and Pickford has been more inconsistent for Everton than he has for England.

Should Tuchel decide to draw a clean slate under previous form, he may look at Pickford differently and the goalkeeper would have to step up.

Winner:

Ben White

White left the 2022 World Cup mid-tournament for personal reasons and has not been selected for a national team since, and has just four caps to his name.

All of those came under Gareth Southgate’s tenure, and could a new manager tempt the Arsenal right back back into the international fold? It feels unlikely but there is always a chance he could be tempted.