Thomas Tuchel delivered his first motivational address to England players in March 2025, outlining a clear mission to win the World Cup. The Football Association released footage of the speech, where Tuchel compared the journey to conquering Mount Everest.
Setting the Goal
Tuchel told the squad: "The mission of why we are here is very, very clear. We want to be world champions. We want to put the second star on our shirt. It's very important that we just speak about it straight away. The target of this mission is clear. Second star on our shirt."
Building a Brotherhood
Flanked by assistant Anthony Barry, Tuchel emphasized unity and togetherness. He said: "Today guys, on the first day of the first camp, I was immediately affected, immediately reminded why I wanted this job in the first place. Why I absolutely wanted to have it, and why I got excited about it – the reason is you."
Tuchel stressed that selecting the best players is not enough; a strong bond is crucial. He referenced a conversation with an unnamed World Cup winner who highlighted the difference between quarter-final exits and victory: "Once we arrived as a brotherhood we were ready to die for each other. It would have been no problem if camp was two months because we loved each other."
Ruthless Decisions
Tuchel has already shown a ruthless streak by omitting players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. He believes that togetherness outweighs individual talent.
The Everest Analogy
Tuchel introduced the concept of "base camps" leading to the summit. He said: "Let's build guys, let's build something special until we arrive in the US. The point is, guys, I want to arrive here," pointing to the top of his Everest chart. "I'm not even talking about winning. I want to arrive here on top when it gets really tough with the toughest group in the world."
He concluded: "When we sit on the plane and land, we know already this will become a great camp and this will be a team no one wants to play against. And they will feel it. They will feel it in the mixed zone. They will feel it in the tunnel. They smell it."
