Thomas Tuchel has expressed his trust in England's players to find a way past Lionel Messi's Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, praising them as a 'special breed' who can rise to the occasion. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's match in Atlanta, Tuchel reflected on his own lack of a professional playing career, using a famous quote from Arrigo Sacchi: 'You don't have to be a horse to be a good jockey.'
Tuchel's Playing Career and Jockey Analogy
Tuchel, who was forced to retire as a player at age 24 due to a knee injury, played no higher than Bundesliga 2 with Stuttgart Kickers and spent time at semi-professional SSV Ulm. He described his career as 'mediocre at best.' The jockey analogy came in response to criticism from Jude Bellingham after England's 2-1 quarter-final win against Norway. Bellingham, who scored twice in that match, was unamused by Tuchel's critique of the team's technical levels, saying, 'Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those kind of conditions.'
Tuchel's Admiration for Players
Tuchel has turned the spotlight onto his players, showing admiration for their ability to perform at the highest level. He recalled moments before matches, such as an FA Cup final with Chelsea, where he felt 'wow' while standing with players for the national anthem. 'It just strikes me from time to time on the sideline right before the match that I couldn't play here on this occasion,' he said. 'You need to be a special breed if you want to take the last step and play in these moments. I cannot praise enough the players who perform, who put out physicality, who open their legs and feel free and put on a fight.'
Stakes and History
England have played in just three World Cup semi-finals: winning in 1966 against Portugal, losing to West Germany on penalties in 1990, and losing to Croatia in 2018. Tuchel is focused on the task at hand rather than the potential for legend creation. 'It is to focus on what the players need to do to become that, not to talk about the end product,' he said.
Messi and Argentina
Tuchel rated Messi as 'one of the greats' but did not put him on a pedestal, noting that England had handled Norway's Erling Haaland well. 'So we will find a way now [against Messi],' he said. Argentina have not controlled matches at the tournament, with a loose defense and reliance on moments of brilliance from Messi. However, they remain unbeaten and fight until the last breath.
England's Chances
England have not hit their peak as a cohesive unit but create chances and do not look finished when trailing. Tuchel is not slow to make bold changes. He feels the excitement building: 'These last two minutes as a coach before matches and even more so now with the national anthem … I feel so alive. I don't want to be anywhere else in the world in these kind of moments.' Then, it will be over to his thoroughbreds.
