Thomas Tuchel’s tenure as England manager is off to a solid but somewhat puzzling start.
With two World Cup qualifiers down and six more to go, the German tactician has secured two wins and two clean sheets. On paper, that’s exactly what he would have wanted.
But in practice, England’s performances have left room for improvement.
A New Philosophy with Old-School Ideas
Tuchel has made no secret of his desire to bring a more traditional English approach to the team.
Speaking before the game, he openly pondered whether reverting to a classic 4-4-2 formation might be the way forward.
He envisioned a system built on width, crosses from deep, and two strikers ready to pounce in the box.
It’s a nostalgic concept, a throwback to the days before England sought to emulate European finesse.
But against both Albania and Latvia, the execution was inconsistent.
Despite the intent, England struggled to break through defensive setups designed to frustrate them.
The attacking play often felt too predictable, lacking the pace and fluidity needed to unlock stubborn opponents.
Rashford’s Role: A Square Peg in a Round Hole?
Marcus Rashford, who started both of Tuchel’s opening games, found himself tasked with delivering width. But this isn’t his natural game.
The Manchester United forward thrives when cutting inside, combining with teammates, and exploiting space—not necessarily whipping in crosses from the touchline.
Jarrod Bowen, playing on the opposite flank, fared slightly better, aided at times by Reece James’ overlapping runs.
Yet, England’s attacks still funneled too often through the congested middle of the pitch.
Rashford, perhaps overly eager to impress his new boss, seemed to be overthinking his role.
His best attributes—direct running and instinctive play—were somewhat stifled by the rigid instructions.
A Lack of Cutting Edge
One of England’s biggest issues was failing to recognize and exploit Latvia’s weaknesses.
Despite the visitors lining up with five defenders (sometimes resembling seven), their aerial vulnerability was clear.
Their center-backs struggled to deal with England’s set pieces, and their goalkeeper was far from commanding.
Yet, Tuchel’s men didn’t capitalize on these flaws as much as they could have.
Anthony Gordon’s absence was felt. The Newcastle winger’s natural directness could have provided the width Tuchel was seeking. Instead, England’s wide play felt forced, as if the team was trying to follow a script rather than playing with instinct and freedom.
Changes Bring Late Improvement
As the game wore on and the structure loosened, England looked more dangerous.
Morgan Rogers impressed off the bench, and Jude Bellingham was, as always, a relentless force in midfield—though he was fortunate to escape a red card.
The second-half introduction of Eberechi Eze injected some much-needed unpredictability, and he was rewarded with a goal.
Phil Foden, given a spell in the No. 10 role, showed glimpses of his creative best.
Still a Puzzle to Solve
Two matches into the Tuchel era, and this England team remains an enigma.
There are positives—the discipline, the clean sheets, the results—but also plenty of question marks.
With limited time before the World Cup, Tuchel must fine-tune his tactics quickly.
His vision for England is clear, but whether he has the right pieces to bring it to life remains to be seen.