Tuchel's Firm Stance on Discipline for England's Final Qualifier
England manager Thomas Tuchel has issued a stark warning to his squad ahead of their final World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania, stating he would rather see his team lose the match than have any player receive a red card that would rule them out of the start of next summer's tournament.
The German coach pointed to the recent situation involving Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who faces a potential two-game ban at the World Cup after being sent off against the Republic of Ireland. Tuchel confirmed he will remind his players about the critical importance of discipline when they face Albania at the Air Albania Arena on Sunday night.
Avoiding Needless Risks with Qualification Secured
With England having already secured top spot in Group K without conceding a single goal, Tuchel emphasised there is no room for needless slips in discipline. His instructions are clear: players should think twice before committing a professional foul, even if an opponent is through on goal.
"It is important," Tuchel stated. "I'm aware of it and we will talk about it. No red cards please. If there's a doubt then it would be smarter not to do it. I don't want to make it too big a subject because then you have a cloud above you. But if you have the choice don't do it."
The England boss referenced Wayne Rooney's experience of missing the start of Euro 2012 after picking up a needless red card during qualifying, underscoring his desire for clearer thinking from his players.
Team News and Selection Decisions for Albania Trip
England have travelled to Tirana without defender Ezri Konsa, who picked up a minor knock. With Marc Guéhi also unavailable, Dan Burn could partner John Stones in central defence.
Tuchel is considering several changes to his starting lineup after Thursday's victory over Serbia. He suggested there could be an opportunity in central midfield alongside Declan Rice, potentially opening the door for Adam Wharton or Jordan Henderson to replace Elliot Anderson.
The significant decision revolves around whether Jude Bellingham will replace Morgan Rogers in the number 10 position. Rogers started against Serbia but was replaced by Bellingham in the second half, with the latter combining effectively with Phil Foden before Eberechi Eze scored England's second goal.
However, Tuchel noted that England became "a little disconnected from front to back" after Foden, Bellingham and Eze were introduced, though he attributed this to minor pressing issues rather than major tactical concerns.
The manager dismissed suggestions that Rogers' understanding of England's pressing system might make Bellingham more effective as an impact substitute. "Jude will always be an impact player because he is too good to not have an impact," Tuchel asserted. "He can start any match for us, there is no doubt."
Tuchel Addresses Behaviour Standards
Beyond on-field discipline, Tuchel also addressed off-pitch behaviour, specifically discussing Djed Spence appearing to snub Thomas Frank after Tottenham's recent defeat to Chelsea.
"I didn't like it," Tuchel said of the incident. "Because the players know they are not only national players when they are the ten days in camp, they are always national players and the standard of behaviour is always important."
While he didn't consider dropping Spence from the squad, Tuchel confirmed he has spoken to the full-back about maintaining appropriate conduct.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Tuchel acknowledged he is unlikely to take only one recognised striker, despite not naming a conventional number nine as cover for Harry Kane in the current squad.
As England prepare for their final qualifying match, Tuchel's message is unequivocal: maintain discipline, play with intensity, but avoid any actions that could jeopardise participation in the main tournament next summer.
