Thomas Tuchel has made it clear where his loyalties lie during the 2026 World Cup, stating that his heart beats for England despite his German nationality. The England manager made the comments after his side secured a 2-0 victory over Panama at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Saturday night, thanks to a stellar performance from Jude Bellingham.
England's Path to the Knockout Stages
The win over Panama ensured England finished top of Group L, progressing to the last-32 of the tournament. Bellingham, the 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder, scored one goal and set up another for Harry Kane, ending a drought of three goalless halves for the Three Lions. The victory was a welcome relief after a tight 1-0 win over Ghana and a 0-0 draw with Croatia.
Tuchel's Nationality Under Scrutiny
In his post-match press conference, Tuchel was asked about his loyalties, given that his home country Germany had also qualified for the knockout stages. Germany had already secured their place with wins over Curacao and Ivory Coast, but suffered a defeat to Ecuador in their final group game. Tuchel responded: "I follow the German team, of course, but my focus and my heart beats for the England national team in this World Cup, so that’s where my focus is. They have a top coach and a top team. They find solutions for themselves."
Tuchel, 52, previously addressed the issue of his nationality when he was appointed England manager. He downplayed any concerns, saying: "The biggest con is I don't have an English passport but that's maybe it. That was clear from the beginning, I love to be the England coach and I was never shy about that. I have huge affection for the country and for the people in the country and the way they approach football and sports in general."
Tuchel's Connection to English Football
Tuchel's affinity for English football stems from his successful stint at Chelsea, where he guided the club to Champions League glory in 2021. He also managed Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich before taking the England job. When asked about his motivation, he said: "I fell in love with the country and the Premier League. That was a dream, to work there. Now to have the chance to work with these kind of players is an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful for it. No one wants it more than me."
Assessing the Panama Win
Tuchel also evaluated his team's performance against Panama, noting the challenge posed by their defensive setup. "Not bad," he said. "We saw a team who didn’t allow any chances in the first two matches. They conceded a 95th-minute counter attack against Ghana. They conceded from a half chance against Croatia with two shots on target. There is no problem if these matches feel tight and tough, it will help us in the next match."
England's next match in the knockout stages will be against an opponent yet to be determined, as the tournament progresses.
