World Cup 2026: Why Thomas Tuchel says England are not favorites to end 60 years of injuries to USA, Canada and Mexico | Football news

Before Thomas Tuchel’s first match in charge of England, back in March 2025, he said he felt that the team was full of “fear” to win Euro 2024. He said his aim was to try to remove that fear.

“We play with hunger and the joy of winning, not with the fear of losing,” he said.

Everything he has done in the US since this England team arrived here 10 days ago seems to have had that initial mission statement.

He is often asked whether he thinks England can win the World Cup. He has repeatedly chosen to remove this proposal.

In his latest press conference, he was asked questions by journalists from Portugal, Brazil and Spain, and in all of them, with a big smile on his face, he clearly said that he feels that each country is a challenge to be champion in 2026.

But he also said that while England are not among the favourites, they are among the “challengers who want to go all the way”.

He went on to say that a lot depends on luck, and that England should not go ahead thinking about trying to win the World Cup, when the competition has not yet started. When he added that there must be hard work and dedication, taking each step in turn, it was as if he was speaking directly to his players.

Everything Tuchel does or says he treats as a subliminal message to his team.

The manager of England revealed that the families of the players and their friends were invited to the base to have a barbecue together; that players are given more time off to enjoy their “vacation”; that they were free to go out to restaurants in Miami in the evening.

Marc Guehi told us that he went to the beach to relax and met family at local coffee shops.

I have never known England players to be given so much free time, and so much freedom, in the build-up to a major tournament.

That there are no pictures or social media posts of England players leaving Florida tells you a lot about the way they behaved, but also about the passion and knowledge of football in these parts.

That relaxation of team spirit is likely to become more difficult once England are done with this final friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando. But the striking difference is that, while English cricket is steeped in a culture of questionable self-discipline, Tuchel shows great respect for his players, treating them like adults, who must take responsibility for themselves.

However, there is little chance that these players will be disappointed because they know that the way they behave is always watched closely by the German coach and his team, and it can affect whether they find the spirit to play in this World Cup.

It is clear that it is a deliberate strategy from Tuchel to try and get the players as relaxed as possible and remove any negative thoughts of pressure before the World Cup kicks off.

The excitement and anticipation will come, he said, naturally and naturally, once the team flies to its tournament venue in Kansas City on Saturday, and once the World Cup games begin to be shown on the big television in the camp. The head coach sees it as an important part of his role to remove as much pressure as possible before it happens.

Interestingly, Tuchel’s first speech to the players 15 months ago – as rousing and Churchillian as it was – has also made the rounds on social media ahead of the World Cup. He then talks about England’s “Everest” and the mountain they must climb if they want to bring the first major trophy to men in 60 years. Many were fooled into thinking that was the latest talk, designed to motivate players right now.

It wasn’t like that. It was Tuchel setting his store and his desire at the beginning of his journey with these players. He doesn’t need to remind them right now that they have a chance. A real opportunity to put the “second star on the shirt”. He doesn’t want to instill any “fear”.

So “competitors” – yes. “Favorites” – no. Expect that mantra to continue throughout the tournament.