The contrasting approaches of Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel to leading England have been the subject of much debate in the football world. Under Southgate, England became a team capable of making deep runs in tournaments, including reaching the final of the European Championship in both 2021 and 2024. However, for some, style matters too.
Tuchel's willingness to leave out star names like Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a notable change since his appointment. In contrast, Southgate often selected the best individuals, even if they didn't fit perfectly into the system. This approach led to changes to the starting XI and system mid-tournament under Southgate.
Tuchel's game model, as outlined by assistant coach Anthony Barry, focuses on accelerating the game through the middle third. This is a departure from Southgate's sides, which built up short and looked to progress the ball more slowly. The speed of play through the middle third has been a notable difference in Tuchel's England.
While Tuchel's system-first approach may have less individual game-breaking quality, he hopes that the players he has selected will combine to produce a greater collective performance. As England takes to the pitch in the World Cup, fans will be eager to see how Tuchel's approach pays off.