Thomas Tuchel has expressed his disappointment with England's performance in their recent World Cup qualifier against Andorra, despite securing a 1-0 victory. The German manager didn't hold back, openly criticizing the team's attitude and accusing them of a lack of "seriousness" during the match.
The Three Lions, playing in Barcelona, struggled to break down a stubborn Andorra side, ranked 173rd in the world. Harry Kane's second-half goal proved to be the difference, but the overall performance was far from convincing, drawing boos from the travelling fans at both halftime and the final whistle.
Tuchel, who has now overseen three wins in World Cup qualifiers since taking charge, is clearly aiming for a more dynamic and attacking brand of football. However, he admitted that the team has yet to fully realize that vision. He pinpointed a lack of urgency, quality, and energy, particularly in the latter stages of the game.
"I didn't like the attitude how we ended the game," Tuchel stated. "I liked the attitude how we started the game, the first 25 minutes, but I didn't like the last 25 minutes, the last half an hour. I think we lacked the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier. We played with fire, and I didn't like the attitude in the end. I didn't like the body language, and I don't think it's what the occasion needed."
Tuchel elaborated, suggesting that his players might have underestimated the challenge posed by Andorra, "I felt it almost like in a cup game where the favorite does not smell the danger. I didn't feel a team that is aware it's only 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier because we were not happy with ourselves. I'm not blaming them, I even feel like (they felt) 'OK, we're not happy, and this is stuck today, it will not happen today'. Step by step, the energy dropped. We needed exactly the opposite, but we couldn't deliver that."
The England manager acknowledged that fatigue might have played a role, with many players coming off the back of a demanding domestic season. Nine members of the squad are also set to participate in the Club World Cup following Tuesday's friendly against Senegal. Despite these factors, Tuchel insisted on the need for a significant improvement in performance if England hopes to make an impact at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
Echoing Tuchel's sentiments, Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane also criticized the team's attitude. "We try to make excuses for England, but I thought when they scored the goal, they felt it was job done. I was really disappointed with their attitude when they scored," Keane said. He further added, "The manager can't be happy with the effort in the last half hour. Overall, particularly in the second half, the attitude wasn't great. When I see players getting bored, which I saw in the last half an hour, I don't like to see that. Go and get some more goals."
Tuchel will be looking for a response from his players in their upcoming friendly against Senegal, demanding a more positive and energetic display.
