- Lee Carsley will take charge of England for the final time before Tuchel arrives
- German has big decisions to make ahead of World Cup in just over 18 months
- Is Harry Kane right to blast England drop-outs? LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday
Thomas Tuchel takes charge of England after Sunday’s game against Republic of Ireland.
Our expert looks at some key areas he needs to address to bring World Cup glory.
KANE OR HIGH PRESS — YOU CAN’T HAVE BOTH
Thomas Tuchel has a big decision to make about Harry Kane. He is our best goalscorer, but will be almost 33 at the World Cup.
My instinct is he won’t want to ditch the skipper — when Tuchel was the manager of Bayern Munich he signed him from Tottenham — but that would mean toning down the Jurgen Klopp-style pressing that he is famed for. Kane is not the man for that. His strengths are vision, touch and finishing.
The other option, which worked for Lee Carsley in Greece last week, is to start with Ollie Watkins and bring on Kane later when there is more space.
At the Euros, England struggled to press when Kane led the line.
It’s a fascinating problem, but one Tuchel needs to address. England have a manager capable of maximising the players at his disposal, even if it means adapting his own style.
He won the Champions League at Chelsea with boundless energy and three at the back. And at PSG, he harnessed the talents of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar — they were never going to be turned into defensive geniuses.
MAKE BELLINGHAM OUR NEW STEVIE G
Tuchel has some great players to work with but none better than Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
He’s absolutely vital to our prospects of becoming world champions. His versatility means he can excel in a number of positions, but that can be a hindrance if he’s moved around from game to game.
Bellingham made an impact as a No 10 at the Euros, but he’s built to play box-to-box where he can use his athleticism as well as technical ability to make things happen. As Steven Gerrard used to do.
For that reason, he should start deeper, closer to Declan Rice and allow Cole Palmer or Phil Foden to support the striker — Kane or Watkins.
Bellingham is brilliant at taking games by the scruff of the neck in midfield and breaking forward at the right times.
Tuchel should give Bellingham a defined role now, so when we get to the World Cup his partnership with Rice will be second nature.
Bellingham is still only 21 and he’s going to get even better.
CLUB ENGLAND, BACK THREE AND A SURPRISE RECALL
A successful World Cup requires Tuchel to keep the good atmosphere Gareth Southgate developed from Russia 2018.
Representing your country became something the players enjoyed. Friendships were forged and you didn’t get the mass withdrawals Carsley has had to deal with.
Tuchel will want to nail down one system. There isn’t enough time at international level for players to change from one system to another.
Personally, I don’t think three at the back is advisable because it means sacrificing a forward where we have so much talent.
Whether left back or left wing-back, England want a left-footer in that position. We suffered at the Euros for not having one.
I bet Ben Chilwell is walking on air with the Tuchel appointment.
They won the Champions League together and while Chilwell isn’t wanted at Chelsea now, this is an incentive for him to get a move in January and force his way back into the England reckoning. He’s definitely good enough.
