Thomas Tuchel has backed England to overcome their recent defensive frailties, insisting the problems stem from individual errors rather than a systemic issue. The England boss admitted his side have become a “danger to themselves” in possession, following the 3-0 defeat to Spain at Wembley on Saturday.
Tuchel admits England are a danger to themselves
England had a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign, conceding no goals, but have now shipped 13 goals in their last six games. They have kept just four clean sheets in 13 matches in 2026. Notably, in each of the last five occasions they have conceded three or more goals, Jordan Pickford has not been in goal.
That run includes Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson (twice), Nick Pope, and most recently James Trafford, who conceded three against Spain. Trafford, the Leeds United goalkeeper, will keep his place in goal for Tuesday’s Nations League match against the Czech Republic in Prague, as he continues to share duties with Pickford.
Tuchel: No defensive pattern to worry about
Tuchel pointed to individual mistakes from Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly as the cause of the Spain defeat, rather than a broader defensive problem. He said: “We suffered clearly from individual mistakes when we had the ball, especially in the deep build-up. Of course, that is something we cannot repeat, especially not at this kind of level. We have to take care about this. We have to be technically absolutely clinical also under pressure.”
He added: “We need to improve these things but strangely enough, when we had the ball we were the biggest danger to ourselves around the box because we just had too many individual mistakes. Purely in defending, I have no concerns and trust that we can do it. I don't see a pattern. It was individual mistakes. I didn't see a pattern in defending. I think we defended very well in a block when we were organised, but we had just big individual mistakes. But I could not see any defensive pattern that would concern me.”
Trafford to continue, Alexander-Arnold ready
Tuchel made clear he will not make changes based on one error, and he hinted that Trent Alexander-Arnold could be involved after impressing in training. He said: “We use the Nations League to see where we are with the other goalkeepers. It is in this camp it’s Traff and Pickers and we absolutely know what he gives us and how he performs under pressure. He did nothing wrong.”
“If a player that starts a season well, like Traff at Leeds, has the chance to prove it and to play in our style and to do the build-up and patterns and defensive patterns in the way we want to do it. We just need to see it at some point. I will not tell you about other changes. We wait and then we see. But I will not change now because someone made an individual mistake, and they've been good for us through all the other matches.”
On Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel added: “Trent has been good, he had a very good training week and the excellent training in Wembley after the match, where he showed that he absolutely wants to play and wants to be with us. We're good. Today was a good training session. Everything is fine. He's ready to go.”
Warning from 2019 defeat in Prague
England lost to the Czech Republic in Prague in October 2019, ending a 43-game unbeaten run in qualifying. That serves as a warning as they aim to finish in the top two of their Nations League group. Tuchel also acknowledged the challenges of international management, noting that even Jurgen Klopp has found it tough after Germany lost to Greece.
Tuchel said: “Everyone told me. Everyone told me that it is tough to form a team and everyone comes with different ideas and the focus was to bring them together, play properly as a team and implement patterns of play and we are a step further. We had a tournament together, we had this experience together. We digested it. We had a result that some think was not enough, some think it was a good result, whatever we had a result and we continue and this helps us. It is a process. So, it is another proof that to do it in international football you do it in four or five days what you do in four or five weeks at a club.”
