England manager Thomas Tuchel has drawn comparisons to legendary 1966 World Cup-winning boss Sir Alf Ramsey after his controversial squad selection for the upcoming tournament, according to an expert.
Grant Bage, a historian and author of The Unseen Sir Alf, noted striking similarities between Tuchel's philosophy and Ramsey's approach six decades ago. Tuchel, who named his 26-man squad on Thursday, left out high-profile players such as Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, and Phil Foden, prioritizing team cohesion over individual talent.
“The words that Tuchel spoke – in May 2026 – could have come straight from the mouth of Sir Alf Ramsey in May 1966,” Bage said. “They have the same philosophy – the team is everything. Nothing else matters. Ramsey didn’t pick the best individual 22 players in his 1966 squad – he picked those who would win England the World Cup. The balance of the side was everything and it seems that Tuchel has the same mentality.”
Tuchel himself emphasized the importance of teamwork when announcing his squad. “We are trying to build the best team... not to select the 26 most talented players,” he said. “Teams win championships. What we are trying to achieve in summer can only be achieved as a team.”
Bage highlighted that Ramsey famously selected Geoff Hurst over Jimmy Greaves for the 1966 final, a decision rewarded with a hat-trick. He recalled Ramsey telling Jack Charlton: “I don’t pick the best players, Jack. I pick the best team for my plan to win the World Cup.” Hurst also noted that Ramsey probed “not so much my skills as trying to find out what sort of person or character I was,” and described selection as choosing “people who will not let me down on the day.”
Tuchel’s decision to omit Maguire drew criticism from the defender’s mother, who called it “disgusting.” However, Bage sees it as a necessary step for team balance. “Tuchel is channeling everything Alf taught us back in 1966 – especially about how England might win things,” he said. “It’s a very exciting first step and now the journey begins.”
The German coach, who replaced Gareth Southgate in 2024, had to reduce a 55-man preliminary squad to 26 for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. England’s campaign begins on June 17 against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, followed by matches against Ghana and Panama.
Newcastle United defender Dan Burn, included in the squad, summed up the excitement: “I’m buzzing. I’ve known for a couple of days and I’ve not been able to say anything to anyone.”
