England’s Euro 2024 Flaws Noted by Tuchel, Southgate’s Impact Unshaken

New England manager Thomas Tuchel has stirred debate with his unflattering assessment of the Three Lions’ campaign at Euro 2024, accusing the team of playing “not to lose” under former manager Gareth Southgate. While England reached the final but fell to Spain, Tuchel’s comments have reopened debate regarding Southgate’s tactics and if his achievements are not sufficiently credited.

Tuchel, who was hired to guide England after Southgate stepped down, wasn’t shy about speaking his truth during his initial press conference. He said the team appeared burdened with pressure and fear during the competition and it translated into uninspired play. “I saw the Euros and had pressure and tension on players’ shoulders, and they were playing not to lose,” Tuchel said. His critique also reached England’s failure to develop a consistent playing style, rhythm, and hunger he believes suppressed their potential.

Statistically, Tuchel has a point. England averaged just 10 shots per game, placing 19th among 24 teams, and were 15th for winning possession in the final third. Their working rate was also brought into question with not a single English player appearing in the top 20 for distance covered per 90 minutes. England reached the final despite this failure, something that Tuchel described as “remarkable” in the context of their issues.

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Southgate’s critics have long condemned him for his cautious style, and Euro 2024 provided a lot of grist for the mill. England struggled through the group phase, just getting by Serbia and scraping a draw against Denmark and Slovenia. Then, in the knockout rounds, they had to rely on flashes of individual brilliance, like Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time equaliser in the game against Slovakia, to remain in the competition. Southgate himself accepted that the team had complicated matters for themselves, putting it down to pressure of expectation and outside factors.

Granted, though, that Southgate’s era cannot be tidied under a rug.His England came in two colossal finals (Euro 2020 and Euro 2024) and a World Cup semi-final (2018), any manager’s records since Sir Alf Ramsey’s in 1966.Built on Southgate’s part through creating togetherness and resolve, the team turned from traditional under-achievers to frequent challengers. His attention to mentality and penalty shootout training also paid off, as seen in their flawless shootout victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

Whilst Tuchel wishes to bring a more attack-focused and exciting brand of football to England, his words risk to add the very same pressure that Southgate worked so brilliantly hard to remove. Southgate’s relaxed attitude and insistence on delivering a good atmosphere were favorable to performances by players, although his tactical acumen was sometimes called into doubt. As England gazes towards the World Cup of 2026, Tuchel will have to develop upon the efforts of Southgate by confronting the weaknesses revealed at Euro 2024

. Whether he is successful in achieving his dream of a more vibrant and courageous England remains to be seen. For the moment, however, Southgate’s position in history as the man who restored pride and belief to the national side should be honored, even if the debate continues to be waged over his methods.