England’s World Cup qualifying campaign under Thomas Tuchel has been close to immaculate, yet the manager insists perfection is an illusion. Eight wins from eight matches and eight clean sheets underline a dominant run, one no European side has ever achieved over a qualifying cycle of six games or more. Still, Tuchel remains adamant that the international landscape is too unpredictable for flawless execution. What matters more, he says, is commitment, clarity and collective belief.
Tuchel’s approach has evolved as he adapts to the challenges of international management, where limited training time forces coaches to prioritise simplicity over intricate tactical detail. Rather than obsess over complex structures, he has emphasised smart set pieces, unity, work ethic and a willingness to make mistakes and recover quickly. His staff recognise that national teams cannot replicate club-heavy systems like peak Barcelona or recent Manchester City; instead, success lies in efficiency and cohesion.
England’s win in Albania highlighted the point. For an hour the team struggled to break down the hosts and lacked dynamism, but Tuchel’s substitutes injected urgency. Harry Kane delivered the breakthrough with a set-piece goal before adding a second, demonstrating England’s ability to shift gears and stay patient. Tuchel values these qualities just as much as clean sheets and victories.
A major part of the team’s momentum has come from clearer structure. Tuchel has adopted a defined system built around a midfield 6-8-10 combination with natural wingers, giving players fixed roles and eliminating the square-peg problem that has dogged past England squads. He has shown flexibility too, adjusting shapes mid-game to suit the moment, as seen when Phil Foden joined Jude Bellingham in a 4-1-4-1 setup in Tirana.
Selection puzzles remain. Left-back continues to be the biggest question, with Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence and Myles Lewis-Skelly all auditioning while Tino Livramento recovers. At centre-back the choice between Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi is still unresolved, and on the left wing Marcus Rashford competes with Anthony Gordon. Even Bellingham is under scrutiny as Tuchel weighs his moments of brilliance against the work rate required in the No 10 role.
Despite modest opposition during qualifying, the campaign has allowed England to build confidence and identity. Their emphatic win in Serbia earlier in the season served as proof of their resilience when truly tested. With momentum growing and belief deepening, Tuchel’s side have every reason to dream—imperfection and all.
