Thomas Tuchel spoke to Sky Sports activities Information‘ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol after the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw and answered questions on a variety of huge speaking factors about him taking up as England head coach – together with whether or not Harry Kane would stay a first-choice and captain.
England’s report scorer got here in for criticism throughout Euro 2024 and was named on the bench by interim boss Lee Carsley for the must-win Nations League match in Greece final month.
Learn on to see what we realized from Tuchel about his view on Kane and his position within the squad, plus his verdict on Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer, England’s World Cup qualifying group opponents, the place he can be based mostly when he begins work from January 1 and whether or not he has had handover conversations with Carsley and former Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate…
England’s World Cup qualifying group
Kane appears to be like set to stay captain and common starter below Tuchel…
“There is not any want in the mean time to have a look at different choices. It is like for Harry for everybody else as effectively, we completely… I like him, for his high quality, for his management, for his character. The gamers resolve ultimately in the event that they play or they do not play, it is all the time like that.
- When and the place is the 2026 World Cup?
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“I am comfortable to have this group of gamers, together with Harry, huge personalities and high quality. The job now’s to search out and construct the most effective group that persons are excited to look at us, that they really feel impressed watching this group.”
Tuchel can be a high-profile presence at Premier League video games from January…
“You will note me in stadiums from January, sure. Work begins from the signature since you get engaged [in the project] and in the present day [the draw] was the kick off for the World Cup marketing campaign so clearly now we have to be there.”
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Talking on the unveiling of a statue and mural in hishonour, England captain Harry Kane says he can’t wait to work with new head coach Thomas Tuchel
and has no intention of stopping any time quickly.
However the place will he be based mostly?
“I can’t let you know my deal with! In any other case you will be in entrance of my home each week! I such as you however not a lot!
“In fact we can be very commonly in St George’s Park [the FA’s national football centre] as a result of that is the place our base is and that is the place we need to create an environment and that is the place we’re comfortable to have interaction with all of the individuals who work for the FA. We need to work together with them, we need to use high quality and really feel the place.
“We’ll watch a number of matches beginning in January. I need to see the matches reside, I’ll communicate to the gamers – but in addition not intrude an excessive amount of as a result of they’re gamers of the golf equipment and will deal with that. You will note us in stadiums so much from January onwards.”
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FA chair Debbie Hewitt – who can be a FIFA vice-president – has defended the governing physique’s choice to again internet hosting the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia
What did he consider England’s Nations League performances below Lee Carsley in November, once they beat Greece and Republic of Eire to win promotion again to the highest tier?
“In fact I watched the video games, I needed Lee all the most effective and despatched congratulations after. I am comfortable as a result of I believed the choice was all the time proper that Lee does the complete marketing campaign and let him end the job. He did wonderful, the gamers did wonderful.
“It was troublesome as a result of that they had a number of accidents they usually wanted a end result desperately in Greece. They delivered and obtained the job performed. Congratulations, effectively performed. We watched on the tv.”
Did England seem like World Cup winners?
“I knew this earlier than and watching the matches, now we have the gamers, the expertise and the traits to go far. However now, to begin with, now we have to show it within the qualifiers. It will get nearer and nearer, the gaps between the large nations and the smaller nations. It closes each event. It is tougher to win your video games, so now we have to point out full respect and present our high degree from March when it begins.”
How does Cole Palmer match right into a Thomas Tuchel England aspect?
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Watch in slow-motion as Cole Palmer dances via Tottenham’s defence earlier than Enzo Fernandez scores!
“That is a bit too far, going into particular person gamers! However he’s positively on type, I feel everybody would agree on that. Hopefully he can nonetheless develop and hold the extent up. Everybody enjoys watching him. He is cool, composed, he is very scientific in ending and helping. Very spectacular in the mean time.”
There was no huge handover from Carsley – and no Three Lions file!
“We exchanged messages however there isn’t a such factor as a well-known file! We’ll work from January in St George’s and I hope it turns into very common and regular that we meet and now we have an change as a result of I am taken with his standpoint in regards to the nominations [selections], in regards to the video games, in regards to the potential within the group and the way he felt the group and his experiences. We’ll keep in touch. He’s U21 coach so very near me and now we have sufficient time from January [to talk].”
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Lee Carsley reacted to England’s 5-0 win towards Eire, which was his final as interim supervisor. Carsley hopes to fulfill with Thomas Tuchel quickly and can ship an in depth handover to the brand new supervisor.
A catch-up with Gareth Southgate is probably going in 2025, too…
“Not but. However nonetheless that’s to come back. He is a gentleman and we met earlier than once I was at Chelsea. It was a pleasure to speak to him. Why should not I?”
Tuchel will not be taking England’s World Cup qualifying opponents calmly, with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra drawn to play the Three Lions…
“I’ve large respect for Serbia and Albania. They will all the time shock. They’ve a robust historical past of soccer, of technical soccer, of emotional crowd and emotional gamers and emotional teams. They’ve well-known ex-players as coaches so we must be very conscious of that.
“England by no means performed Latvia, so this can be a new expertise for all of us, after which now we have Andorra the place we’re large favourites however now we have to qualify, that is an important factor. That is the place all the main focus goes. There can’t be every other strategy than taking it critically, take it with respect and make it occur earlier than we are able to dream the dream.”
And at last, do not anticipate him to begin sporting fits…
[Speaking in a smart suit] – “Issues change! An FA tie, even! It feels snug. It is not going to be my look on the sideline. I would like extra freedom to maneuver round. However for the event it was good to put on!”
World Cup 2026 European qualifiers: Key dates
- Group-stage match dates: March 21-25, June 6-10, September 4-9, October 9-14 and November 13-18, 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Remaining event dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
When and the place is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA males’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The event will happen throughout 16 cities in three North American nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.
The final time North America hosted the event was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.
An expanded World Cup will function 48 groups – 16 greater than in Qatar 2022 – and happen throughout three host nations for the primary time.
2026 World Cup – certified groups
Solely three groups to this point are positive of their place on the finals: the hosts USA, Canada and Mexico.
World Cup 2026 schedule
The complete fixture record with group video games and kick-off instances will solely be accessible after the draw for the ultimate event, which FIFA says is predicted to happen in the direction of the top of 2025.
However FIFA has already introduced key dates and confirmed that the opening match can be held in Mexico Metropolis, with the ultimate going down on the New York New Jersey Stadium – dwelling of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Group stage: June 11-27 Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3 Spherical of 16: July 4-7 Quarter-finals: July 11th of September Semi-finals: July 14-15 Third-place play-off (‘Bronze remaining’): July 18 Remaining: July 19
