England manager Thomas Tuchel has strongly suggested he may sing the national anthem at next year's World Cup, marking a significant shift in his position after previously stating he needed to earn the right to perform 'God Save The King'.
The Anthem Debate
The German coach, who took charge of the Three Lions in 2024, initially created debate around the national anthem when he declined to commit to singing it. This followed interim boss Lee Carsley's decision not to sing during his spell in charge, which had already sparked considerable controversy.
Tuchel handled the sensitive topic with diplomacy from the outset, explaining last year: "You have a very powerful, emotional and meaningful national anthem, and I could not be more proud to be on the sideline and be in charge of the English national team. It means everything. But I can feel it because it is that meaningful that I have to earn my right to sing it."
Earning His Stripes
Now, after guiding England to the World Cup in the United States with a perfect qualifying campaign of seven wins from seven matches, Tuchel appears to have met his own conditions. When questioned about whether he'd now sing the anthem, the manager responded with a broad grin and told reporters: "You think it is already there. I will think about it. Yeah, maybe. Let's see."
England's flawless qualification included their latest victory against Serbia, maintaining their 100 per cent record under Tuchel's leadership. The achievement appears to have strengthened the German's connection to the role and potentially to the symbolic gestures that accompany it.
Looking Ahead to Albania
Meanwhile, Tuchel is preparing for England's final World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday, where he's expected to make several changes to his starting lineup. The manager acknowledged the heavy schedule facing his Premier League stars, who are juggling title races and Champions League commitments with their international duties.
"Some of the guys are pretty tired with their physical input and we will not take risks with any players," Tuchel stated. "The door is open for others. I haven't decided yet."
This could mean opportunities for players like Bournemouth's Alex Scott, who was left out of the Serbia match, while established stars such as Declan Rice, Reece James and John Stones may be rested ahead of next summer's tournament.
