Thomas Tuchel: England manager doubles down on criticism for performance against Andorra - ‘We didn't play seriously enough’
Published 09/06/2025 at 16:06 GMT+1
Thomas Tuchel said England lacked "seriousness and urgency" in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra. The Three Lions boss reaffirmed those comments ahead of facing Senegal in a friendly, saying England "simply did not match our own standards". Tuchel also said he wants his team to "worship training and every minute in matches" as they build up to the 2026 World Cup.
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Thomas Tuchel has insisted he won't "sugarcoat" criticism of his England team and that "it's on us to do better".
Head coach Tuchel said England "lacked seriousness and urgency" after labouring to a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on Saturday.
He also said England "played with fire" by not winning more comfortably against the world's 173rd-ranked side.
"I protect my players, I said no names of players and it is not an individual matter," said Tuchel ahead of England’s next fixture, a friendly against Senegal on Tuesday.
"But we as a team, we simply did not match our own standards. I did not like the last 10 minutes because I felt on the sideline we didn't play seriously enough like what we needed to do in a World Cup qualifier.
"What I have told you I have already told the team directly. There are no messages that I give via a press conference. Everything I say here, I already said to the players. Why should we sugarcoat it? You have been in the stadium, why should I tell you that we had a good game and we are happy with what we did if we are not happy? No harm done. We can handle criticism.
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"I have always strongly believed that a group of football players can speak honestly to each other, I always include myself. It is always a 'we' message we try to give. Now it's on us to do better.
"The attitude towards training, the attitude in camp, the commitment from the players, was outstanding. Everybody wanted to be there, everybody wanted to be involved, everybody wanted to start and to play in this game. We then got a little bit stuck. We take our analysis from this and try to do better of course."
The win over Andorra was Tuchel’s third match in charge of England.
All three have been wins, but Tuchel will be hoping to get the below-par performances out of the way now, before the World Cup starts in just over a year’s time.
"It's a learning at the moment. Today will be our 11th training session together, the same as one-and-a-half weeks in club football. Here it is half a year.
"We need to worship training and every minute in matches. Of course we learn stuff. It's good to see players in tight situations and in moments when things are not easy."
Tuchel confirmed that Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will start against Senegal after not facing Andorra.
Saka, who also missed the squad in March through injury, was asked about Tuchel compares with previous England manager Gareth Southgate.
"I don't really like to compare, if I'm honest. One person's qualities are always going to be overshadowed.
"So if I just speak about Thomas himself, since I have come into the camp he has been quite demanding, quite intense on the pitch and off the pitch he's been more relaxed.
"He's a nice guy, he lets us enjoy ourselves and creates a nice environment for all the players to enjoy."
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