The Thomas Tuchel tactics ran the risk of being dissected to the innermost detail until 75 minutes of the match against DR Congo, when England trailed 1-0.
It was Harry Kane’s brilliance that bailed the team out yet again, but how far the Three Lions will be able to go in the tournament is something that remains to be seen.
The 53-year-old German was primarily appointed for England to perform really well at the World Cup, which means reaching the semi-finals at the very least.
However, are the Thomas Tuchel tactics up to the mark to keep the Three Lions on track to reach that stage at this year’s World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel Tactics: The Pros
Tuchel has been successful in making his team play its football at a high tempo, something that is so common with the Premier League clubs.
Still, it has to be kept in mind that England played a combined total of 165 minutes of that high-paced game against Ghana and Congo without scoring.
England have also been very good with their aerial deliveries so far and have made it a point for Jude Bellingham to make forays into the opposition penalty box to connect with the crosses, and this has added impetus to their game in general.
With Declan Rice being in the team and playing quite a few minutes as a right-back when England desperately searched for an equaliser against Congo, the Three Lions have a wonderful crosser of the ball to deliver killer crosses into the box.
Thomas Tuchel Tactics: The Cons
England have scored eight goals in the World Cup so far, of which Kane has scored five and Bellingham two. That stat alone shows how dependent England have been on those two players. One might include Rice to that list as well while deciding England’s most effective players.
For all of Tuchel’s supposed emphasis on team spirit and the necessity to thrive as a unit, which were probably the reasons to drop Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold and opt for Jordan Henderson, England have looked too dependent on those three individuals.
Even if one delves a little deep into England’s high-paced, direct game, one sees the over-dependence on those three players.
Rice because of his wonderful right foot to play aerial balls, Bellingham because of his physical presence and ability to score from inside the opposition penalty box and Kane because of his overall brilliance and finishing ability.
There is nothing to suggest that Tuchel’s coaching has been able to inculcate a new excitement into the Three Lions’ game, let alone a new philosophy.
The Thomas Tuchel tactics were not enough to camouflage the fact that DR Congo looked to have the better passing abilities by some distance than the more fancied Three Lions in the England vs DR Congo match.
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Thomas Tuchel Tactics: Sub-Par Performances From The Rest Of The Squad
For all the hype generated about him, Elliot Anderson has contributed nothing to the attack. Kobbie Mainoo has warmed the bench when his mobility and passing could have been an asset for England, for reasons best known to Tuchel.
Not to mention that Nico O’Reilly has looked the shadow of the player he has been for Manchester City in recent times and Marcus Rashford has impressed only in patches.
Due to the Thomas Tuchel tactics and squad selection, England hardly have any player to replace O’Reilly as the left-back.
Hence, the jury is still out on the efficacy of the Thomas Tuchel tactics, as England prepare to face a dangerous Mexico in the latter’s own backyard. The real test will be from the quarter-finals onwards, and it remains to be seen whether England even manage to reach that stage.
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