Wembley Atmosphere Falls Flat as Tuchel Calls for More Passion from England Fans

Wembley Stadium witnessed a dominant England performance on Thursday night, but the atmosphere failed to ignite as much as the Three Lions' performance on the pitch. Following England's 3-0 friendly victory over Wales, England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his disappointment with the subdued support from the home crowd.

England started the match strongly, with goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, and Bukayo Saka within the first 20 minutes. Despite the early lead and the team's overall control of the game, Tuchel felt the energy from the stands was lacking.

"We had one and a half training days to prepare against a well-trained team and we did very well," Tuchel told ITV Sport. "We could have been 5-0 up at half-time. We couldn't score the fourth and fifth ones. The stadium was silent. We didn't get any energy back from the stands. We did everything to win".

Tuchel questioned whether he should have expected more from the fans, adding, "Yes. What more can you give in 20 minutes? We didn't let them escape. If you hear just Wales fans for half an hour, it's sad because the team deserved more support today". He noted the contrast between the relatively small contingent of Wales fans, who were vocal in their support, and the largely quiet home support.

The England boss stood by his statement, emphasizing the team's strong performance. "I stand by this statement. We cannot do more than being 3-0 in a derby. I would have wished for a bit more support in phases where it gets difficult," Tuchel said. He also pointed out that in the second half, there seemed to be "a bit too much support for Wales," which could have spurred the England team on.

Despite Tuchel's disappointment with the atmosphere, he praised Morgan Rogers's performance, who scored his first international goal. "He is what he is. He is a number 10 and he is competing for his place," Tuchel said. He also highlighted the team's overall effort and the importance of teamwork. "We are ready for any team effort. Serbia was the next example of teamwork. We created a lot of chances," he stated, while also mentioning injuries to key players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

The victory against Wales marks England's continued progress. The Three Lions now turn their attention to Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Latvia, where a win could secure their place in next summer's tournament. England currently tops Group K, having won all five of their qualifying games.

While the team's performance on the field was a resounding success, Tuchel's comments highlight the importance of fan support and the impact it can have on the team's energy and motivation. He hopes to see a more passionate and vocal backing from the Wembley crowd in future matches.