What Have We Learned from Tuchel’s England in 325 Days?

Four Games in 325 Days: Do We Know Anything About Tuchel’s England Yet?

It’s been 325 days since Thomas Tuchel was announced as England’s new manager, yet the identity and direction of his team remain elusive. The German tactician officially took charge on 1 January, but since then has overseen just four matches, leaving fans and analysts alike still guessing about what his Three Lions side actually stands for.

Limited Game Time Compared to Predecessors

Tuchel’s sample size is strikingly small. Since the turn of the millennium, no other permanent England manager has had so few matches within their first year. Even Sam Allardyce, whose reign lasted just 67 days, managed one game.

“Tuchel delayed taking over until 1 January, missing valuable Nations League games,” said BBC’s Phil McNulty. “In the same time span, Hodgson had 14 matches, Capello had 9, and Southgate 8.”

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, England’s tactical identity under Tuchel is still forming—or perhaps, still missing.

Squad Selections: Hints, Experiments, and Omissions

So far, Tuchel’s selections have offered glimpses, but not clarity.

• New caps: Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Trevoh Chalobah

• Possible debuts this window: Djed Spence, Elliot Anderson, Jarell Quansah

• Questionable inclusions/exclusions: Jordan Henderson (35), Ivan Toney (Saudi Pro League, only played 2 mins), and the omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker

“Tuchel has opted for a mix of veterans and Premier League performers regardless of their club’s stature,” noted tactics expert Umir Irfan.

Names like Ezri Konsa, Jarrod Bowen, and Marc Guehi highlight a focus on Premier League pedigree and tactical versatility rather than big-club fame.

Tactical Approach: Early Signs of Positional Play

Despite the limited match count, certain tactical elements are beginning to show:

• Formation in possession: 4-4-1-1 transitions into 3-2-5 or 2-3-5

• Build-up strategy: Full-backs (especially Lewis-Skelly) play a key role in possession and pressing

• Attacking fluidity: Rashford, Bellingham, and Lewis-Skelly rotate across advanced zones

• Wingers hold width: A contrast to Southgate’s full-back overlaps; here the wingers isolate and attack

“It’s positional play with flexibility,” Irfan explains. “Zones must be filled, but players rotate roles depending on the sequence.”

Declan Rice remains the anchor, while Curtis Jones and Morgan Rogers are given license to push forward, exploiting space when opponents’ defenders step out.

Eye Test: Progress or Plateau?

So far, performances have been inconsistent. Saturday’s match against Andorra at Villa Park is expected to be a formality, but next week’s fixture against Serbia in Belgrade could provide the first real test of Tuchel’s system under pressure.

“On occasions, it has felt like a regression from Southgate’s side,” McNulty admitted.

Conclusion: The Jury Is Still Out

After nearly a year and only four games, England’s identity under Tuchel remains under construction. His squad selections hint at a new direction, his tactics suggest a move toward positional fluidity and pressing, but the results and clarity are still missing.

With the World Cup qualifiers heating up, time is no longer a luxury. The upcoming Serbia match could be a watershed moment in defining what Tuchel’s England really is.