Thomas Tuchel stands on the brink of a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign tonight in Tirana, with England having won all seven matches without conceding a single goal. The 52-year-old manager could seal an eighth consecutive win and clean sheet against Albania at 5pm GMT, cementing his resolute leadership approach ahead of next summer's tournament in America.
Tuchel's conviction-driven management style has made headlines throughout the qualifying campaign. He has prioritized team cohesion over individual star power, even excluding Jude Bellingham from last month's squad and relegating the Real Madrid midfielder to substitute appearances. When challenged on whether a World Cup can be won without a nation's best player, Tuchel responded bluntly: «Prove it. It's about the team.»
The England manager has identified seven preferred starters for the World Cup: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, John Stones, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. However, four crucial starting positions remain undecided, creating intense competition among players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze for attacking roles. Tuchel acknowledged it is «very unlikely he can take all of his five No 10s to the World Cup.»
Squad Challenges
England face significant injury concerns heading into tonight's match. Marc Guehi dropped out with a bruised foot, while Ezri Konsa withdrew due to calf tightness after playing the full 90 minutes against Serbia on Thursday. Nick Pope and Anthony Gordon had already pulled out earlier in the week. The tight Thursday-to-Sunday turnaround means Tuchel is likely to avoid fitness risks, potentially using the already-secured qualifier for experimentation.
Kane confirmed on Saturday he is set to start again despite the demanding schedule. Tuchel's focus on building team chemistry over recent months represents a shift from his predecessor Gareth Southgate, who stressed over finding the right midfield combinations during major tournaments. The England manager has consistently selected veterans like 35-year-old Jordan Henderson and 32-year-old Dan Burn for their off-field contributions, while also promoting emerging talents identified from the U21 European Championships.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
