“It Would Be a Miracle” – Danny Mills Calls for England Reality Check Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Ex-England international delivers brutal assessment of Tuchel’s Three Lions and questions fan expectations

Thomas Tuchel England 2025

With just over a year to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the England national team once again finds itself at the centre of high expectations—and heavy criticism. This time, the sharp words come not from a rival manager or pundit abroad, but from one of England’s own: former international defender Danny Mills.

Mills, who earned 19 caps for the Three Lions and featured at the 2002 World Cup as part of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’, has delivered a pointed reality check about the current state of English football. Speaking in a candid interview with GOAL, the ex-Leeds United and Manchester City player made it clear that, in his view, England’s expectations far outweigh the squad’s true quality.

“We Don’t Have the Best Players in the World” – Mills Gets Honest

Danny Mills England miracle trophy

It’s a message that may not sit comfortably with England fans, who are still chasing a long-awaited taste of international glory. Mills’ primary message? England are good—but not as good as many think.

“We don’t have the best players in the world,” he said flatly. “We seem to have this arrogance that we do. That we’ve got all these unbelievable young stars, the next big thing in every position. But the fact is, we don’t. Simple as that.”

This kind of statement, especially from a former England player, isn’t something you hear every day. But Mills isn’t interested in sugar-coating things. He believes that while there is talent in the squad, particularly among the younger generation, England are not elite in the way their fans often assume.

“Realistically, we’re in the top six or eight in the world,” he added. “So, if we reach a quarter-final, that’s par. A semi-final? That’s a good tournament. A final would be brilliant. But if we win it… that would be a miracle.”

Tuchel’s Tough Start in the England Hot Seat

At the heart of the debate lies England’s recent appointment of Thomas Tuchel as national team manager. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss, a Champions League winner, has been tasked with ending a 60-year wait for a major men’s trophy. But Mills has concerns that Tuchel may not fully grasp the unique demands of international football.

“Being England manager is completely different from managing at club level,” Mills said. “It’s not about building a team over months with training ground time. It’s about being able to adapt quickly, to manage egos, to get players to click within a couple of training sessions. That’s hard. Really hard.”

Tuchel himself recently admitted that he’d had only 12 or 13 sessions with the squad since taking over—a figure equivalent to just two weeks of club training. In Mills’ eyes, that underscores the challenge the German tactician faces.

“International management is about man-management,” he emphasised. “It’s about throwing something together at the last minute and still getting it to work. You’ve got to be part psychologist, part tactician, part diplomat.”

A New Manager, Same Old Pressure

England fans, fueled by generations of near-misses and dashed hopes, are often accused of expecting too much, too soon. Every tournament seems to arrive with the same buzz: “This could be our year.” Mills, having lived through one of the country’s most talented but ultimately unsuccessful eras, knows the dangers of hype.

The class of 2026 certainly has promise—players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice offer creativity and flair in abundance—but are they ready to win it all?

“There’s a romanticism around this squad,” Mills suggested. “We’ve got big names, young talent, players doing well at their clubs. But when push comes to shove, do we have the absolute elite quality to beat France, Brazil, Argentina, or even Portugal on their day? I’m not so sure.”

England Top of Group K—But What Lies Ahead?

Despite the scepticism, England’s campaign hasn’t started badly. Tuchel’s side sit top of Group K in UEFA World Cup qualification, having won all three games without conceding a goal. But a friendly defeat to Senegal in March exposed cracks, and the next round of fixtures against Andorra and Serbia in September will serve as another test of how cohesive and confident this team really is.

Mills’ advice, ultimately, isn’t to abandon hope—but to temper it.

“Look, if we win it, I’ll be over the moon,” he said. “But fans need to understand the level we’re at. If we go out in the quarters, it’s not a disaster. That’s about where we are right now.”

Will England Ever Get Their Miracle?

With Tuchel at the helm and a new generation of players rising through the ranks, England are not short on potential. But turning promise into silverware is the true challenge—and one that has eluded even their most celebrated squads.

As Mills pointed out, managing England is unlike any other job in football. It’s about making the most of limited time, managing egos, navigating media scrutiny, and somehow getting 23 players from rival clubs to believe they’re part of something bigger.

Whether Tuchel can achieve what so many before him couldn’t remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: realism, not arrogance, might be the secret ingredient England have been missing.

And if they do lift the trophy in 2026, well, as Mills himself put it—“that would be a miracle.”