ENGLAND MANAGER THOMAS TUCHEL BULLISH ON 2026 WORLD CUP AIM

Thomas Tuchel was appointed as England manager on Wednesday. Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

New England head coach Thomas Tuchel has said he will not shy away from publicly stating his aim is to win the 2026 World Cup and believes only "nuances" and "details" have stopped the side ending their long wait for silverware.

Gareth Southgate came closer than any manager since Sir Alf Ramsey to delivering England's first men's trophy since 1966, guiding the team to back-to-back Euros finals.

Southgate stepped down after losing the Euro 2024 showpiece to Spain in July and the Football Association (FA) responded by appointing under-21 manager Lee Carsley on an interim basis before pivoting to a proven winner in Tuchel.

Sources have told ESPN that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was among the 10 candidates FA chief executive Mark Bullingham revealed on Wednesday that they had spoken to during the process.

However, they ultimately chose Tuchel, who has won 11 major honours at club level including the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea.

The 51-year-old will start his 18-month contract on Jan. 1 -- meaning he will get just one tournament cycle as things stand -- and when asked if it was win or bust for him with England, Tuchel said: "I don't know, it depends. I know what you're saying. No, it's not a gamble, but we speak it out now very clearly why we are here and what we want to achieve.

"We are not shy of it. We are absolutely open about it. It does not help the more often we speak about it, but it should be out there and then we can set the standards and set the values and principles because then we have to live up to them for 18 months.

"Let's judge it when we have done it. If we decide it was a failure, then we will not continue. If we decide it was not a failure, then we will continue. Let's see. No one can predict the future.

"It feels absolutely right for me to do so, it feels clear and it feels easy for me to explain. When it's easy to explain, it's normally good.

"We are playing with players for the best league and the biggest competition in the world. We have a group of young hungry players. We are desperate to win a title, so we have all the ingredients, so I think we should try to implement this into our style of play.

"I think we should play an attacking style of football and we should try to emphasise a physical side of the game because this is what English football is all about and this is what excites our supporters, and this is what suits the players."

Southgate led England to the 2018 World Cup semifinals where they were beaten in extra-time by Croatia. They lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties before exiting the World Cup two years later with a narrow 2-1 defeat to France in which Harry Kane missed a late penalty that would have tied the score.

Spain edged another tight game 2-1 in Berlin and when asked to explain what England were missing, Tuchel said: "I think it's just nuances, it's just details. If you lose on penalties in a final, who would I be to say I know what you did wrong when you were there.

"You were there. We or they have been in two finals I think. Semifinals and quarterfinals. Lost each of them very, very close, each of them could have gone either way. The genuine belief is that we are there, that we are ready."

Bullingham also defended the appointment of a foreign-born manager -- the third in England's history -- despite the FA making the development of homegrown players and managers at St. George's Park central to their mission.

Citing the arrival of English coach Anthony Barry as Tuchel's assistant, Bullingham said: "If you look at St. George's Park overall, I think it has been a really good success. Our pathway is really strong, both from a coaches and players point of view. There are a lot of fantastic young coaches around and obviously Anthony is one of those.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

BREAKING: THOMAS TUCHEL APPOINTED ENGLAND HEAD COACH

Thomas Tuchel will start his England post on January 1 and will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry; Lee Carsley will again take charge during the November international break; Tuchel: "We will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud"

Thomas Tuchel has been appointed the new England manager

Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed by the FA as  new England head coach.

The German - who becomes the Three Lions' third foreign coach after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello - signed his contract on October 8 and will start work on January 1.

Tuchel will be assisted by English coach Anthony Barry, who worked with him at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Lee Carsley will remain in interim charge of the senior team during the November international break for games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, before returning to his previous post as U21s manager.

Tuchel said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.

"Working closely with Anthony as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark [Bullingham] and John [McDermott], for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."

The German boasts considerable elite-level experience having led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and also taken charge of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Tuchel will speak as England manager for the first time on Wednesday afternoon, at a press conference starting at 1.30pm. You can watch it live on Sky Sports News and on Sky's digital platforms.

Who is new England assistant Barry?

Liverpudlian Barry first met Tuchel when the German joined Chelsea in 2021, having already been at the club working under Frank Lampard.

Anthony Barry worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern Munich

He is widely regarded as one of the most promising upcoming English coaches and while he was at Chelsea, several Championship sides considered making him their manager.

At Chelsea, Barry undoubtedly made an impact under Tuchel - so much so that he stepped in as Chelsea caretaker boss when the German had Covid-19.

Barry then joined Tuchel's backroom staff at Bayern Munich. and also held assistant manager roles with the Republic of Ireland, while he was also Roberto Martinez's No 2 in the Belgium and Portugal national team set-ups.

Tuchel has credited Barry for the quality of his analysis, as well as his personality and drilling on the training pitch, and Barry is also known to be a set-piece specialist.

Speaking after being appointed England manager, Barry said in a statement: "For any Englishman in football, working with the national team is the pinnacle and I didn't hesitate when Thomas asked me to come and join him again.

"I know what a great place St. George's Park is and how much of an advantage it gives our England teams, and the support it gives to coaches.

"This squad is very talented and have done so much to bring the country together, I look forward to meeting and working with them on this exciting project."

- skysports.com

THOMAS TUCHEL SET TO BE NAMED ENGLAND MANAGER - SOURCES

Thomas Tuchel is set to become the full-time replacement for Gareth Southgate. Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel is set to become England's new men's head coach after talks accelerated with the Football Association at a rapid pace in the past 48 hours, sources told ESPN.

The FA are set to hold a news conference at Wembley on Wednesday with Tuchel likely to be confirmed as Gareth Southgate's successor.

Southgate stepped down after eight years after England's Euro 2024 defeat to Spain.

The FA initially appointed under-21s boss Lee Carsley on an interim basis for England's autumn UEFA Nations League fixtures as they stepped up their search for possible candidates, who included Tuchel and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Carsley repeatedly refused to rule himself in or out of the running for the role on a permanent basis and while speculation grew that the FA were hopeful he would prove himself able to succeed Southgate, sources told ESPN that English football's governing body were in fact making contact with high-profile alternatives.

Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, but he won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021.

In January during an exclusive interview with ESPN, Tuchel was asked whether he felt more appreciated in England rather than his native Germany.

"Yes," he replied. "I feel that we are very critical with each other in Germany and especially with players or coaches and not only with me. "Pretty simple question. ... I felt more appreciation in England, yes."

Tuchel will become the third foreign-born manager and first German to take charge of England.

Sources told ESPN that Guardiola was approached several weeks ago but the 53-year-old was uncertain over his future after entering the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium.

The FA also considered English candidates including Graham Porter and Eddie Howe but their job specification -- published in July -- stated that the successful candidate would need "significant experience of English football" and "a strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions."

Tuchel has won 11 major trophies including the Bundesliga with Bayern, two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain and the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund.

England reached back-to-back Euros finals under Southgate and are targeting a first trophy in 60 years at the 2026 World Cup.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

HARRY KANE MAKES ENGLAND CENTURY IN STYLE WITH DOUBLE TO SEE OFF ENGLAND

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 If at first you do not succeed, try again. It has been a guiding ­principle for Harry Kane. Here, the England captain had numerous nearly‑but‑not‑quite moments and, if it were not him, it might have been possible to think it was going to be one of those nights.

This is Kane. And the red-letter occasion when he celebrated his 100th England cap was only going to end one way – him making it happen, getting through on the strength of his talent and remorselessness.

There were 57 minutes on the Wembley clock when Kane lashed high into the Finland net from just inside the area after a lovely first‑time pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold. It was Alexander-Arnold’s night, too; the weight and incision of his passing was sumptuous.

Kane did the rest. A touch with the ­outside of his right boot to cut inside ­Robert Ivanov; the hammer brought down. The ­cameras cut to Kane’s family in the stands and they would do so again before he was withdrawn to heartfelt applause.

Again, Alexander-Arnold was the architect, playing a beautiful return ball to the debutant, Noni Madueke, who had come on as a substitute. Madueke pulled back; Kane banged first time into the far corner. The captain had said on Monday that he wanted 100 England goals, which sounded like wishful thinking. It is never wise to question his targets. At the age of 31, he has 68.

The result gave the England interim manager, Lee Carsley, a ­second win in two games after the 2‑0 ­success against Republic of ­Ireland in ­Dublin on Saturday. For him, there was much to enjoy. ­Nothing more so than Kane.

It felt a little out of character to see Kane in sparkly gold boots but then again, the occasion had been built up pretty much exclusively around him. Why not adopt a few trimmings of the showman? He would collect more gold before kick-off – a special cap to commemorate his landmark, two other members of England’s 100 club, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, doing the honours. And then it was out to mine even more.

There were empty seats inside Wembley but it was still a huge crowd and they had come to see a Kane goal. He was central to virtually everything in the first half and yet the breakthrough eluded him.

Anthony Gordon had his full‑back, Adam Ståhl, for pace and when he crossed early on, Kane opted to look square for Bukayo Saka instead of going for goal. Finland got bodies in front of Saka; they would put them on the line time and again.

Kane watched a volley deflect high, he extended Lukas Hradecky with a low shot when he might have done better and he had the ball in the net with a header from Saka’s cross only to be pulled up for offside. Then there were the times when Finland’s last defender stretched to make a ­crucial clearance as Kane looked to get in behind.

Control has been Carsley’s ­watchword; the biggest thing he has wanted to see. Fluidity is another and the movements he demands were on show from the outset, most notably Alexander-Arnold up and inside from right-back. Rico Lewis, on his first start, had plenty of licence from left-back.

Alexander-Arnold was in the mood to make something happen; he even popped up on the left at times. He ­produced the moment of the first half, a delicious reverse ball that released Saka. The winger’s shot took a deflection and Hradecky had to throw up a hand to paw clear. Alexander-Arnold blasted a low shot past the far post and was wide with a free-kick.

AP

It was practically all England up to the interval and yet Finland did have their opportunities, none better than when Declan Rice was robbed by Rasmus Schüller and Topi Keskinen lashed high from the edge of the area. He ought to have played in Teemu Pukki.

Earlier, Lewis had to make a challenge to snuff out Pukki while Keskinen bent just wide, although the referee did whistle for an off‑the‑ball foul by Finland in the move.

Carsley gave a full debut to Angel Gomes and he saw plenty of the ball in a deep-lying central midfield role, moving it briskly and smartly. He also got his foot in to win it, sometimes high up. Carsley is right. Gomes is a different kind of midfield conductor, almost un-English-like.

The second half began as the first had left off; England ­pushing, Kane threatening. There was a free‑kick from him that Hradecky did well to save; then a scissors kick following a Finland defensive lapse. Same result. England had to remain patient because Rice and Gordon had gone close.

Finally, it happened, Carsley as jubilant as anyone when Kane ­showcased that lethal shooting ­technique, honed during those endless hours on the training ground. Ezri Konsa’s enforced withdrawal after he rolled his ankle was a worry but England pressed on, not wanting to settle for 1-0.

Madueke brought tricks and pene­tration; he worked ­Hradecky with a deflected effort while another substitute, Eberechi Eze, could not control another fabulous ­Alexander‑Arnold ball. The last word went to you-know-who.

- David Hytner

ENGLAND BOSS LEE CARSLEY TELLS BEN WHITE: LION'S ROLE UP TO HIM

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Lee Carsley said he has no plans to contact Ben White over a possible England call-up and believes the responsibility lies with the Arsenal defender to make himself available.

Carsley's predecessor Gareth Southgate said in March that the Football Association's technical director John McDermott was told in a phone call from Arsenal sporting director Edu that White did not want to be considered for England.

It has been widely reported that White had a disagreement with Southgate's assistant Steve Holland while part of the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

White was sent home from that tournament for "personal reasons" as both the FA and Southgate subsequently denied there was an issue within the camp.

After Carsley began his interim role as Southgate's successor with back-to-back 2-0 UEFA Nations League wins away at Republic of Ireland and home to Finland, the 50-year-old hinted he would look to make changes to the squad for next month's friendly matches.

"I'm thinking about the game tonight, but it wasn't long after coming off the pitch where I was thinking 'right, I need to start thinking about next one now'," said Carsley on Tuesday. "How that might look and what players are going to be coming into form, and how that's going to pan out. So, yeah, competition for places within this squad is very high.

"I think you will see some movement and I think it's important that we keep freshening it up, we keep moving the squad forward."

Asked about whether that could involve speaking to White about his potential availability, Carsley said: "I've not planned to [contact him], no. We spoke about this in the squad selection. Every player that's eligible to play for England is in with a chance.

"As far as I was aware, he was asked to be not contacted. So, if that changes, then that'll change."

Pushed on whether the onus was on White to change the situation, Carsley replied: "Yeah I think it is important that we've got real competition all over the pitch and the more players we've got available to pick from, the better it is."

White only has four England caps to his name, but is now established as one of the Premier League's top right-backs in an Arsenal side that challenged Manchester City for the title in the past two seasons.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC