England manager Thomas Tuchel has lauded his squad's impeccable professionalism after they concluded a flawless year of World Cup qualifying with a commanding victory over Serbia.
Flawless Campaign Seals Early Qualification
The Three Lions secured their place at next summer's tournament with two games to spare, becoming the first European nation to guarantee their World Cup spot. Under Tuchel's guidance, England have won all seven of their Group K matches without conceding a single goal.
Thursday's 2-0 triumph against Serbia at Wembley showcased England's continued excellence, with sublime goals from Bukayo Saka and substitute Eberechi Eze securing the three points. What impressed Tuchel most was his team's attitude in what many would consider a meaningless dead rubber.
Tuchel's Delight with Unwavering Hunger
"I'm very happy with the attitude again of the team," Tuchel stated as attention turns to Sunday's final qualifier away to Albania. "I don't see any change of attitude in training because the game doesn't mean anything, or is a dead rubber as you call it, or is a friendly."
The German coach emphasised that his players remain desperate to shape their identity and maintain their high standards regardless of the match's significance. He noted that despite the team feeling tired after the Serbia victory, they took pride in another clean sheet and recognised the value of a complicated, intense match.
Tuchel expects the same commitment in training ahead of the Albania trip, noting that "everyone is desperate to play" despite qualification already being secured.
Building Towards World Cup Success
With just two March friendlies scheduled before Tuchel names his World Cup squad, the manager acknowledged that expectations are high for England to perform at major tournaments. "I think the big nations take it for granted to be in the big tournaments until they are not," he remarked.
The former Chelsea manager makes sure his players feel appreciated through video analysis, data, and direct encouragement. He identified the team's outstanding characteristic as their consistent work rate and effort in every match, whether it's a competitive fixture or friendly.
England will discover their World Cup group stage opponents on December 5 in Washington DC, with Uruguay and Japan reportedly among the potential tough opponents awaiting them next summer.
