England manager Thomas Tuchel has issued a firm challenge to his squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley, insisting the team must find motivation from within despite having already secured their place at the 2026 tournament.
The Internal Drive
With qualification sewn up and no competitive jeopardy in Thursday's match, Tuchel emphasised that his players still have "a lot to prove to ourselves". The England head coach acknowledged the atmosphere would differ from a must-win knockout game, but stressed this shouldn't affect performance levels.
"Will we get the full thrill of it tomorrow? Maybe not," Tuchel admitted. "But why should we not run? We still do our stuff, we still run at people, we still go after them. The environment and circumstances don't give the edge, but still we have a lot to prove to ourselves."
Focus on Fundamentals
Tuchel revealed he's unlikely to experiment significantly against Serbia, preferring to build on the progress made during September and October's camps. The transformative 5-0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade during the previous international break serves as the blueprint.
The manager intends to stick with his established system featuring a 6, an 8 and a 10 in midfield with specialist wingers on both flanks. He reiterated his philosophy that players should be used in their best positions rather than being shoehorned into roles based solely on individual talent.
This approach means Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane are unlikely to start together, with Tuchel suggesting Foden might feature as a false nine, most probably from the bench.
Marginal Gains and Mindset
The England camp's preparation has featured some unconventional methods, including players wearing special fluorescent red footwear designed to improve concentration through pressure points on the foot.
"I don't know the science behind it," Tuchel confessed about the focus shoes. "They are desperate to tell me, but I haven't found time to get my head around it. But all the players are wearing them. They told me they can focus better in meetings if they wear these shoes and I hope they believe it."
Tuchel, a longtime meditation practitioner, also discussed his daily practice and the work of movement expert Suzanne Scott within the squad. "She does fantastic breathwork sessions," he said. "She does more stuff than just that, but she does it and the players buy into it. They feel the relief."
Looking ahead, England will complete their qualifying campaign against Albania in Tirana on Sunday before March friendlies against Japan and Uruguay. The team will fine-tune for the World Cup finals with warmup games, likely in Florida, before the pressure truly intensifies in North America.
