3 Things we learnt from Tuchel's first game.
I'll be honest, this was not how I imagined Tuchel would set up England. But a qualifier isn't too definitive.
This is Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of England, and although it is only a qualifier, it is a good chance to see new formations, tactics, ideas and player integrated into the team. We can get an idea of how Tuchel is likely to play in future tournaments, and we can understand which players he is likely to favour. Let’s begin.
Lewis-Skelly could be England’s future left-back.
20 minutes into his England debut, Myles Lewis-Skelly improves his already incredible first season in top flight football with a goal on his England debut. He truly has done a Micah Richards and “burst onto the scene” this season, with injuries in Arsenal’s left-back role allowing him to become a (somewhat) regular first team started for Arsenal, making 14 appearances this season. Scoring on his England debut made this season even better, and that’s exactly what happened yesterday, after he made a great run into the box that was met by a Bellingham through ball.
Foden shouldn’t be holding the width.
Phil Foden was the PFA Player of the Year in the 2023/24 season, and he won that award by being played in his best position, as his team’s number 10. That is the position in which he accumulated 27 goal contributions in the Premier League alone, including screamers from outside the box constantly throughout the season, including at the Bernabeu in the Champions League, in the Manchester Derby in a thrilling comeback win, and on the final game of the season. I would actually argue something that many City fans will probably disagree with me on, which is that Foden isn’t really as versatile as people think. He plays brilliantly as a ten, and arguably he plays well as a false nine, but I don’t see him at all as a winger. Unfortunately for Foden, Jude Bellingham is also a number 10, so if Tuchel doesn’t play a dual 10 system like I assumed he would, then Foden needs to be started in the 10 or benched.
Kane is going to be dropping deep.
One thing that I noticed in this game was Kane’s tendency to drop deep. He has always done this for England under Southgate, but my question was whether Tuchel would want this. And clearly, he is alright with this idea. It has its advantages, like his ability to receive the ball in these positions and create chances for wingers with his excellent long-ball passing, but if England want to play by getting the ball wide and crossing it into the middle to Bellingham and Kane, then this tendency to drop deep can leave Bellingham isolated in the box. It is an important decision by Tuchel, and I think that this decision would make more sense if he started a winger on the wing rather than Foden.
Kyle Walker should not be starting for England.
My message here is a very simple one: he won’t be playing in the 2026 World Cup, so there is absolutely no point to playing him into a qualifier. These games are an excellent chance for Livramento to be integrated into the starting 11, and I think that we would all love to see him in the next few years at right-back in future tournaments. That will be a lot harder if we let him waste away on the bench, getting less chances to play with the players who will be his teammates in 2026. Not only that, but Trent has to be involved in 2026, and for me, he is the obvious choice for starter. The reality is, not only was Walker a complete liability for Manchester City at right back when he played for them this season, with City only winning 2 games that he started, Walker will not be involved in 2026. Livramento and Trent Alexander-Arnold will.
What else do you think England fans can take away from this game? Let me know in the comments below.
Agree on all points!