A bunch of individuals and no collectiveness
When Thomas Tuchel announced his England squad, there were plenty of moans from disgruntled fans. People across the country could not believe that he had left key players out of the squad. The likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were omitted, while names such as Jordan Henderson and John Stones made the World Cup squad.
At the time Tuchel published the squad, many fans posted on various social media platforms that England would exit the World Cup in the early stages. However, the squad selection could prove to be a stroke of genius from Tuchel, and here is why.
Selecting Henderson looks like a gamble, but he has been to several major tournaments with England and understands the pressure that comes with them. Henderson might not even get any game time, but his presence could be significant for the younger players in the squad.
The same applies to John Stones. Bringing on Stones with 15 minutes remaining in a difficult match, when England is protecting a lead, is not a bad option.
However, leaving Cole Palmer out could come back to haunt Tuchel towards the end of the tournament, when he may need someone with Palmer’s flair and agility to score a late goal. Tuchel could have taken Palmer ahead of some of the players he selected. For example, Eze and Madueke have been fringe players for Arsenal this season, whereas Palmer has been Chelsea’s talisman throughout the campaign. One thing Tuchel has got right is the balance of the team and his tactical intelligence.
The reason England has been given a chance of winning this World Cup is because of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. These two players have consistently stepped up for England in major tournaments, and they are expected to deliver again.
One reason England might not win is their individualistic mindset and approach to matches. Tuchel will need to eradicate this quickly, something Gareth Southgate was unable to remove from the team, and a factor that contributed to England losing two major finals.
