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Tuchel’s Early Days with England: A Mixed Bag Against Albania
As Thomas Tuchel embarked on his journey as the new head coach of England, he made waves in the football community. Prior to the match against Albania, he expressed that the team appeared to play with trepidation during Euro 2024 under former coach Gareth Southgate. This commentary set the stage for a match that many hoped would showcase a new era of fearless football.
Tuchel indicated a desire for England to embrace a more physical style reminiscent of Premier League football. Known for his tactical adaptability, anticipation surrounded the formation he would implement. Ultimately, he opted for a 4-2-3-1 setup, a formation that aimed to balance both defensive stability and attacking flair.
However, England faced a challenging scenario against Albania, who employed a solid defensive strategy, particularly in the first half. Despite Tuchel’s reputation for promoting high-intensity, pressing football, the team struggled to exhibit these traits initially.
With only four days of training with the squad since his official appointment in January, Tuchel acknowledged the limitations in immediate tactical shifts. Leon Osman, a former midfielder for the Three Lions, commented on BBC Radio 5 Live, “Thomas Tuchel’s had the squad for three days – you can’t expect to see a different England team.” He noted the importance of entertainment in football, especially outside of tournament play, citing that while control is essential in competitions, fans seek engaging performances in friendly matches.
Statistically, England dominated the match, holding 74% possession and recording 12 shots to Albania’s three, with all of Albania’s attempts on goal coming from the hosts. Impressively, England completed 437 passes in the first half, a record for the team according to Opta’s historical data.
In the second half, Albania attempted to shift their approach, but England’s defense held firm, with substitute Armando Broja only testing the backline sporadically. The final outcome was a professional victory for the Three Lions, underscoring their impressive streak of 38 home qualifiers for World Cups or Euros without defeat since November 2007, including 34 victories.
Former England defender Matt Upson provided his perspective on the match, stating, “It was a difficult game from a spectating perspective. Once we got into the rhythm, it was very much an England game at Wembley against inferior opposition where they struggled to break them down.” Upson emphasized the anticipation surrounding Tuchel’s tactical plans, acknowledging the uncertainty but highlighting England’s effective game management throughout.
Upson further assessed that Tuchel likely gained valuable insights into countering teams that adopt a low block strategy, such as Albania’s. The match, while routine in its outcome, leaves fans and analysts eager to witness the evolution of Tuchel’s vision for the England national team.
Source
www.bbc.com