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England take on Albania at Wembley in Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge. The German coach has been appointed on an 18-month contract through to the 2026 World Cup and England begin that journey as their qualifying campaign gets underway.
Tuchel has wasted no time explaining where England fell short under Gareth Southgate, saying that he felt the team were “afraid” during last summer’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. "I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win,” Tuchel said. “And the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football."
Tuchel arrives with an impressive CV, that includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and made a number of eye-catching calls when naming his first squad, including a recall for former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Now all eyes are on Tuchel’s first England line-up as the Three Lions look to hit the ground running in their World Cup qualifying group that includes Serbia, Latvia, Andorra and tonight’s opponents Albania.
Follow live updates from Wembley ahead of Tuchel’s first game in charge, below:
Morgan Rogers could start again tonight if Jude Bellingham plays alongside Declan Rice in a deeper role in midfield. The Aston Villa player has made two appearances for England, both against the Republic of Ireland, but is yet to start.
Meanwhile, the Guardian report that Ezri Konsa could start ahead of Marc Guehi in defence. Dan Burn is in line to make his debut at centre-back.
Thomas Tuchel has reportedly left three players out of his matchday squad to face Albania.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been told that be will play no part in tonight’s game, along with Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah.
Gibbs-White, who has impressed with Nottingham Forest this season, was a late call-up to the squad to replace the injured Cole Palmer.
Tuchel has cited his intention of playing the Premier League way, which will see England adopt an attacking, physical and exciting style, which will be music to the ears of fans who were frustrated by Gareth Southgate’s pragmatic approach.
But the German still has the same problem Southgate had in devising a set-up which can utilise his plethora of attacking options.
It remains to be seen where the returning Jordan Henderson will fit into his plans and whether he will have a prominent role on the pitch or whether it will be more a cheerleader role.
Having been named Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor in October and started the role on New Year’s Day, Tuchel is at long last taking charge of his first England game.
Friday’s match against Albania is the first stop on the road to next summer’s World Cup in North America and a sell-out crowd is heading to Wembley for the start of this new era.
England’s previous 10 permanent managers have opened their reigns with victories, with Sir Bobby Robson the last to fail to do so.
Only Sir Alf Ramsey, whose World Cup heroics Tuchel is looking to replicate, lost his first match.
In the days after Fifa president Gianni Infantino returned from Donald Trump’s inauguration, sources who met with him couldn’t help but notice something. They could have sworn Infantino was starting to talk like Trump, as he constantly went on about “the biggest deals”.
This might well have been a trick of the mind but parallels have been drawn with how some wannabe tech moguls start behaving like Elon Musk after two days visiting Tesla.
It doesn’t seem too much of a stretch given how Infantino nodded along and said yes as Trump absurdly spoke of how an unprecedented trade war between World Cup 2026 co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico is “gonna make it more exciting”.
“Tension is a good thing,” the US president added, as if this was managers exchanging barbs in press conferences.
Fifa is losing its dignity as Infantino bows to Trump’s ‘Maga World Cup’ dream
Albania have never won a competitive match against a nation who are in the top-10 of the World Rankings.
Of the 19 such games they’ve played that have lost 17 and drawn two. England are currently ranked fourth.
Including friendlies, Albania have beaten France (ranked ninth) 1-0 in June 2015 thanks to a goal from Ergys Kaçe.
Following his release from Bayern Munich, Thomas Tuchel did not take up a coaching position until hired by the FA.
He explored what it feels like to be back on the training pitch and setting up plans for the future.
The England boss said: “There’s been many smiles and I think the players feel it, that I missed it [coaching] and them a lot - it’s a unique energy in a football team and a dressing room at training.
“They are very social and it was nice to see that they spend a lot of time together, which is very different to club football so it’s nice to observe and even nicer to be a part of it.”
Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White told Thomas Tuchel he should have been in the England squad before earning a late call-up after Cole Palmer withdrew.
Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live he told the story of his call-up and how he was upset with Tuchel’s initial decision.
Gibbs-White said: "I was upset, a little bit disappointed. But when he told me, I respected his decision. The standard of players is top level.
"I said back to him 'I feel like I've done enough to get the call-up, considering the form level that we were in, but obviously you're the manager, you make the decisions, and I respect that totally'.
"But then Sunday I got the call, so I was straight here. It was about 4 or 5 o'clock. He sent me a message to say 'Are you free to talk?' and I think I replied within 30 seconds.
"He phoned me up and said 'Are you still upset with me, or do you want to come and join us and fancy training tomorrow?'
"There's no question there. I said I'd love to come and join and train with the boys. I was smiling from ear to ear."
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham spent Euro 2024 in Germany, in Blankenhain and Berlin, Dusseldorf and Dortmund, Frankfurt and Cologne. Dan Burn spent it in an Airbnb.
It was another indication of the parallel lives of England’s resident superstars and the call-up with the most improbable back story in years, perhaps since Rickie Lambert or Chris Powell.
Thomas Tuchel’s maiden selection was expected to contain men from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. It also included a player whose CV features Darlington, Yeovil and Asda.
How Dan Burn went from Asda shifts to England call – and proved everyone wrong
Now that he has made it into the England squad, Dan Burn has high hopes of being selected for the 2026 World Cup.
He said: "I'm trying to take it camp by camp at the minute. I just want to make a big impression and try and make the next camp.
"But obviously it's every kid's dream to play in a World Cup or even to play for your country, so to know I've got that opportunity, if I take it, it's special."
One of the biggest stories for this England camp is the fate of Newcastle’s Dan Burn.
The 32-year-old central defender helped end the Magpies 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday.
On Monday morning he joined up with England for the first time and is on the verge of making his international debut.
"Yeah, I think I have been overlooked, but I understood it," he revealed after joining up with the group. "What Gareth (Southgate) did to bring England from where it was to competing in finals showed that his method was very good.
"When the new manager came in there was a clean slate, but once you've been passed over during so many international breaks, you sort of accept the time has passed, but luckily the new manager has taken a chance on me.
"It's probably made me very resilient. I don't think I've had a straight-line trajectory in my career, I started really late and it's been very up and down.
"I feel I've been doubted a lot over my career. I doubt many people who watched me play at Darlington would say that I'd be sat here doing a press conference for England."
England are unbeaten in their last 31 World Cup qualifiers with 23 wis and eight draws during that run.
It is the longest ongoing run of any European nation.
Only once have the Three Lions lost their first qualifier of a campaign (13 wins, three draws).
It was a 1-0 defeat to Germany in October 2000 in their final game at the old Wembley.
If Thomas Tuchel’s appointment was supposed to be about winning now, his first step has been to look back. The recalls for Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford frame the character of his first England squad, in which there are only two players aged 21 or under. They are Jude Bellingham and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who were both obvious picks in their own ways.
The wildcard picks are curious rather than exciting, with 32-year-old Dan Burn called up. Tuchel showed the charisma that should characterise his time in charge by saying he was surprised Burn had never been capped, and joking: “He is such a tall guy, but obviously it is easy to overlook him.”
Why Thomas Tuchel looking to the past with his first England squad is logical
Albania have only scored one goal in six meetings with England.
Altin Rraklli struck in a 3-1 defeat in March 2001.
It is their lowest goals-per-game rate (0.17) against any nation they’ve faced three or more times.
With England’s style of play under Tuchel as of yet unknown there may be a chance for Albania to double that tally tonight though it looks like a tough task.
Thomas Tuchel could hardly have asked for a better opponent to begin his time as England boss.
The Three Lions have won all six of their matches against Albania and should be on course to make it seven wins in a row.
The only have a better 100 per cent win ratio against Luxembourg (9/9), San Marino (8/8) and Malta (7/7).
“I’ve known him since the Sunderland days and his desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself,” Jordan Pickford said when asked about Jordan Henderson’s return to the England set-up.
“He’s a winner and he’s a big leader. I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad. He was vice-captain for a number of years, didn’t come to the last Euros.
“For me having leaders in your group, if you look at the last four majors (tournaments) the teams that have won have all had that experience in their side whether they have played or haven’t played.
“I think it’s a great move for us because of what he has done and how he is still driven. Whether he plays or not he will drive the sessions with the lads and he’s a great guy as well.”
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has hailed Thomas Tuchel’s decision to bring Jordan Henderson out of the international wilderness.
Henderson’s inclusion in Tuchel’s squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia was met with surprise as the 34-year-old has not played for his country since November 2023 and his form for Ajax this season has been criticised.
But Tuchel brought him back for his leadership in the group and Pickford said his former Sunderland team-mate is “great for the dressing room”
Jordan Henderson a ‘winner’ and great for England squad, says Jordan Pickford
When the England squad for this international break was announced there were a couple of surprise inclusions.
The most shocking was the return of Jordan Henderson at 34-years-old.
“He embodies everything,” said Thomas Tuchel when asked about Henderson’s return.
“He’s a serial winner, his personality, character. He is the glue in every team where he played, and he will be the glue that makes things special.
“So, I’m convinced and when the teacher is convinced normally in school the class gets better.
“If the teacher is convinced about the quality of the class, the character of the class, it’s better than the other way around.”
Thomas Tuchel is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover excitement for winning rather than the fear of losing.
He explained: “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expresson of players, the hunger [were all missing at Euro 2024].
“They [the players] were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”
Thomas Tuchel maintains England were “afraid” at last summer’s Euro 2024 following an agonising defeat in the final to Spain.
The Three Lions boss is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover “excitement”.
And Tuchel will be able to showcase his vision of England for the first time on Friday when England face Albania, though he remained emphatic when assessing where Gareth Southgate’s side fell short a year ago.
Thomas Tuchel explains what England were missing at Euro 2024: ‘They were afraid’
Naturally much of the build-up to this game has been about Thomas Tuchel as it is his first game in charge of England.
He said: “I just hope so much that they [the fans] can see what I see on a daily basis, and they can transform it into the stadium. What I’ve seen in the last few days is amazing and it’s been a joy to watch and be a part of it.
“It’s amazing to have a full Wembley and I will be a bit nervous but that’s part of it, I’m always a bit nervous before matches so this will not be different. I’m excited and hopefully we can prove the point and take the first step.
“I feel the pressure, but I feel it as a privilege. In my coaching career, I’ve adapted to that and found methods to cope with it.”
Marc Guehi is England’s most senior options at centre-back, following injuries to John Stones and Harry Maguire, and he could be partnered by Levi Colwill, or by Dan Burn. Reece James is back in the squad but Kyle Walker could start at right back with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured.
Tuchel will have to decide whether to use Jude Bellingham at No 10 or alongside Declan Rice, with Curtis Jones or Jordan Henderson options to play in a double-pivot and Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers or Eberechi Eze under consideration to play further further forward. Tuchel has described former Liverpool captain Henderson as the “glue” in his squad.
On the wings, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford will compete for the spot on the left while injuries to Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer should see Phil Foden play off the right, although Jarrod Bowen is an option. Dominic Solanke has been named as Harry Kane’s back-up at striker.
Thomas Tuchel has no time to waste when it comes to shaping his plans for the 2026 World Cup: he has already confirmed that Harry Kane will be his captain and it would be no surprise to see England’s record scorer start alongside Jude Bellingham, with Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford also close to automatic picks.
Tuchel has played with both a back three and back four in his managerial career, but he most recently used a back four at Bayern Munich. There could well be a debutant at left back with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final hero Dan Burn options.
One of the first things England’s young players noticed was how much Thomas Tuchel likes a laugh. He made them feel at ease. It’s an attitude that comes in handy for a question he was always going to get.
England’s new German manager was naturally asked about 1966, and the manner of the men’s national team’s only ever trophy victory. Did Geoff Hurst’s second goal cross the line?
“There is still debate,” Tuchel chuckles. “I don’t think so but there was no VAR at this time so it stands!”
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s grand plan – and the reason England hired him
England vs Albania will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage getting underway from 7pm.
The match will kick-off at 7:45pm GMT on Friday 21 March at Wembley Stadium.
England are in Group K of World Cup qualifying, along with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra, with the top team qualifying for the World Cup finals.
During this international break they will face Albania and Latvia with Thomas Tuchel hoping to get his tenure off to a winning start.
England begin a new era under Thomas Tuchel as the Three Lions kick off the road to the 2026 World Cup with a qualifier against Albania at Wembley.
Tuchel’s first game in charge comes as England target victory at the 2026 tournament, with the German coach signing an 18-month contract after succeeding Gareth Southgate as manager.
And Friday night’s fixture at Wembley will offer an early look at how Tuchel wants to shape his new England team, following spells in the club game with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
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Tuchel has wasted no time explaining where England fell short under Gareth Southgate, saying that he felt the team were “afraid” during last summer’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. "I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win,” Tuchel said. “And the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football."
Tuchel arrives with an impressive CV, that includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and made a number of eye-catching calls when naming his first squad, including a recall for former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Now all eyes are on Tuchel’s first England line-up as the Three Lions look to hit the ground running in their World Cup qualifying group that includes Serbia, Latvia, Andorra and tonight’s opponents Albania.
Follow live updates from Wembley ahead of Tuchel’s first game in charge, below:
England vs Albania LIVE: Latest World Cup qualifying updates
- England host Albania in Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge | Kick-off is at 7:45pm
- Match at Wembley is the start of England's World Cup qualifying campaign
- England team news: Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn could make debuts
- Morgan Rogers pushing for start if Jude Bellingham plays deeper role
- Morgan Gibbs-White, Aaron Ramsdale and Jarell Quansah left out of squad
England team news: Morgan Rogers pushing for start
15:25 , Jamie BraidwoodMorgan Rogers could start again tonight if Jude Bellingham plays alongside Declan Rice in a deeper role in midfield. The Aston Villa player has made two appearances for England, both against the Republic of Ireland, but is yet to start.
Meanwhile, the Guardian report that Ezri Konsa could start ahead of Marc Guehi in defence. Dan Burn is in line to make his debut at centre-back.
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England team news: Three players left out of matchday squad
15:13 , Jamie BraidwoodThomas Tuchel has reportedly left three players out of his matchday squad to face Albania.
Morgan Gibbs-White has been told that be will play no part in tonight’s game, along with Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah.
Gibbs-White, who has impressed with Nottingham Forest this season, was a late call-up to the squad to replace the injured Cole Palmer.
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Premier League is the way for Tuchel
15:09 , Mike JonesTuchel has cited his intention of playing the Premier League way, which will see England adopt an attacking, physical and exciting style, which will be music to the ears of fans who were frustrated by Gareth Southgate’s pragmatic approach.
But the German still has the same problem Southgate had in devising a set-up which can utilise his plethora of attacking options.
It remains to be seen where the returning Jordan Henderson will fit into his plans and whether he will have a prominent role on the pitch or whether it will be more a cheerleader role.
Tuchel’s first game
15:00 , Mike JonesHaving been named Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor in October and started the role on New Year’s Day, Tuchel is at long last taking charge of his first England game.
Friday’s match against Albania is the first stop on the road to next summer’s World Cup in North America and a sell-out crowd is heading to Wembley for the start of this new era.
England’s previous 10 permanent managers have opened their reigns with victories, with Sir Bobby Robson the last to fail to do so.
Only Sir Alf Ramsey, whose World Cup heroics Tuchel is looking to replicate, lost his first match.
Fifa is losing its dignity as Infantino bows to Trump’s ‘Maga World Cup’ dream
14:49 , Miguel DelaneyIn the days after Fifa president Gianni Infantino returned from Donald Trump’s inauguration, sources who met with him couldn’t help but notice something. They could have sworn Infantino was starting to talk like Trump, as he constantly went on about “the biggest deals”.
This might well have been a trick of the mind but parallels have been drawn with how some wannabe tech moguls start behaving like Elon Musk after two days visiting Tesla.
It doesn’t seem too much of a stretch given how Infantino nodded along and said yes as Trump absurdly spoke of how an unprecedented trade war between World Cup 2026 co-hosts USA, Canada and Mexico is “gonna make it more exciting”.
“Tension is a good thing,” the US president added, as if this was managers exchanging barbs in press conferences.
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Fifa is losing its dignity as Infantino bows to Trump’s ‘Maga World Cup’ dream
A struggle for Albania
14:41 , Mike JonesAlbania have never won a competitive match against a nation who are in the top-10 of the World Rankings.
Of the 19 such games they’ve played that have lost 17 and drawn two. England are currently ranked fourth.
Including friendlies, Albania have beaten France (ranked ninth) 1-0 in June 2015 thanks to a goal from Ergys Kaçe.
Tuchel on getting back to coaching
14:33 , Mike JonesFollowing his release from Bayern Munich, Thomas Tuchel did not take up a coaching position until hired by the FA.
He explored what it feels like to be back on the training pitch and setting up plans for the future.
The England boss said: “There’s been many smiles and I think the players feel it, that I missed it [coaching] and them a lot - it’s a unique energy in a football team and a dressing room at training.
“They are very social and it was nice to see that they spend a lot of time together, which is very different to club football so it’s nice to observe and even nicer to be a part of it.”
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'I was smiling ear to ear'
14:25 , Mike JonesNottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White told Thomas Tuchel he should have been in the England squad before earning a late call-up after Cole Palmer withdrew.
Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live he told the story of his call-up and how he was upset with Tuchel’s initial decision.
Gibbs-White said: "I was upset, a little bit disappointed. But when he told me, I respected his decision. The standard of players is top level.
"I said back to him 'I feel like I've done enough to get the call-up, considering the form level that we were in, but obviously you're the manager, you make the decisions, and I respect that totally'.
"But then Sunday I got the call, so I was straight here. It was about 4 or 5 o'clock. He sent me a message to say 'Are you free to talk?' and I think I replied within 30 seconds.
"He phoned me up and said 'Are you still upset with me, or do you want to come and join us and fancy training tomorrow?'
"There's no question there. I said I'd love to come and join and train with the boys. I was smiling from ear to ear."
How Dan Burn went from Asda shifts to England call – and proved everyone wrong
14:17 , Mike JonesHarry Kane and Jude Bellingham spent Euro 2024 in Germany, in Blankenhain and Berlin, Dusseldorf and Dortmund, Frankfurt and Cologne. Dan Burn spent it in an Airbnb.
It was another indication of the parallel lives of England’s resident superstars and the call-up with the most improbable back story in years, perhaps since Rickie Lambert or Chris Powell.
Thomas Tuchel’s maiden selection was expected to contain men from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. It also included a player whose CV features Darlington, Yeovil and Asda.
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How Dan Burn went from Asda shifts to England call – and proved everyone wrong
Burn targeting 2026 World Cup
14:10 , Mike JonesNow that he has made it into the England squad, Dan Burn has high hopes of being selected for the 2026 World Cup.
He said: "I'm trying to take it camp by camp at the minute. I just want to make a big impression and try and make the next camp.
"But obviously it's every kid's dream to play in a World Cup or even to play for your country, so to know I've got that opportunity, if I take it, it's special."
Dan Burn felt 'overlooked' ahead of England call-up
14:02 , Mike JonesOne of the biggest stories for this England camp is the fate of Newcastle’s Dan Burn.
The 32-year-old central defender helped end the Magpies 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they defeated Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday.
On Monday morning he joined up with England for the first time and is on the verge of making his international debut.
"Yeah, I think I have been overlooked, but I understood it," he revealed after joining up with the group. "What Gareth (Southgate) did to bring England from where it was to competing in finals showed that his method was very good.
"When the new manager came in there was a clean slate, but once you've been passed over during so many international breaks, you sort of accept the time has passed, but luckily the new manager has taken a chance on me.
"It's probably made me very resilient. I don't think I've had a straight-line trajectory in my career, I started really late and it's been very up and down.
"I feel I've been doubted a lot over my career. I doubt many people who watched me play at Darlington would say that I'd be sat here doing a press conference for England."
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Will England's unbeaten run continue?
13:55 , Mike JonesEngland are unbeaten in their last 31 World Cup qualifiers with 23 wis and eight draws during that run.
It is the longest ongoing run of any European nation.
Only once have the Three Lions lost their first qualifier of a campaign (13 wins, three draws).
It was a 1-0 defeat to Germany in October 2000 in their final game at the old Wembley.
Why Thomas Tuchel looking to the past with his first England squad is a logical decision
13:48 , Miguel DelaneyIf Thomas Tuchel’s appointment was supposed to be about winning now, his first step has been to look back. The recalls for Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford frame the character of his first England squad, in which there are only two players aged 21 or under. They are Jude Bellingham and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who were both obvious picks in their own ways.
The wildcard picks are curious rather than exciting, with 32-year-old Dan Burn called up. Tuchel showed the charisma that should characterise his time in charge by saying he was surprised Burn had never been capped, and joking: “He is such a tall guy, but obviously it is easy to overlook him.”
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Why Thomas Tuchel looking to the past with his first England squad is logical
A tough task for Albania
13:40 , Mike JonesAlbania have only scored one goal in six meetings with England.
Altin Rraklli struck in a 3-1 defeat in March 2001.
It is their lowest goals-per-game rate (0.17) against any nation they’ve faced three or more times.
With England’s style of play under Tuchel as of yet unknown there may be a chance for Albania to double that tally tonight though it looks like a tough task.
A great opponent for Tuchel
13:33 , Mike JonesThomas Tuchel could hardly have asked for a better opponent to begin his time as England boss.
The Three Lions have won all six of their matches against Albania and should be on course to make it seven wins in a row.
The only have a better 100 per cent win ratio against Luxembourg (9/9), San Marino (8/8) and Malta (7/7).
Pickford on Henderson's return
13:26 , Mike Jones“I’ve known him since the Sunderland days and his desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself,” Jordan Pickford said when asked about Jordan Henderson’s return to the England set-up.
“He’s a winner and he’s a big leader. I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad. He was vice-captain for a number of years, didn’t come to the last Euros.
“For me having leaders in your group, if you look at the last four majors (tournaments) the teams that have won have all had that experience in their side whether they have played or haven’t played.
“I think it’s a great move for us because of what he has done and how he is still driven. Whether he plays or not he will drive the sessions with the lads and he’s a great guy as well.”
Henderson a ‘winner' says Jordan Pickford
13:19 , Mike JonesEngland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has hailed Thomas Tuchel’s decision to bring Jordan Henderson out of the international wilderness.
Henderson’s inclusion in Tuchel’s squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia was met with surprise as the 34-year-old has not played for his country since November 2023 and his form for Ajax this season has been criticised.
But Tuchel brought him back for his leadership in the group and Pickford said his former Sunderland team-mate is “great for the dressing room”
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Jordan Henderson a ‘winner’ and great for England squad, says Jordan Pickford
Jordan Henderson's shock recall
13:11 , Mike JonesWhen the England squad for this international break was announced there were a couple of surprise inclusions.
The most shocking was the return of Jordan Henderson at 34-years-old.
“He embodies everything,” said Thomas Tuchel when asked about Henderson’s return.
“He’s a serial winner, his personality, character. He is the glue in every team where he played, and he will be the glue that makes things special.
“So, I’m convinced and when the teacher is convinced normally in school the class gets better.
“If the teacher is convinced about the quality of the class, the character of the class, it’s better than the other way around.”
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Tuchel to try and find missing piece
13:03 , Mike JonesThomas Tuchel is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover excitement for winning rather than the fear of losing.
He explained: “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expresson of players, the hunger [were all missing at Euro 2024].
“They [the players] were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”
Tuchel explains what England were missing at Euro 2024: ‘They were afraid'
12:56 , Mike JonesThomas Tuchel maintains England were “afraid” at last summer’s Euro 2024 following an agonising defeat in the final to Spain.
The Three Lions boss is adamant his side can find the missing piece on the road to the 2026 World Cup, hoping to discover “excitement”.
And Tuchel will be able to showcase his vision of England for the first time on Friday when England face Albania, though he remained emphatic when assessing where Gareth Southgate’s side fell short a year ago.
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Thomas Tuchel explains what England were missing at Euro 2024: ‘They were afraid’
Tuchel on his first match in charge
12:49 , Mike JonesNaturally much of the build-up to this game has been about Thomas Tuchel as it is his first game in charge of England.
He said: “I just hope so much that they [the fans] can see what I see on a daily basis, and they can transform it into the stadium. What I’ve seen in the last few days is amazing and it’s been a joy to watch and be a part of it.
“It’s amazing to have a full Wembley and I will be a bit nervous but that’s part of it, I’m always a bit nervous before matches so this will not be different. I’m excited and hopefully we can prove the point and take the first step.
“I feel the pressure, but I feel it as a privilege. In my coaching career, I’ve adapted to that and found methods to cope with it.”
Who will start for England tonight?
12:42 , Mike JonesMarc Guehi is England’s most senior options at centre-back, following injuries to John Stones and Harry Maguire, and he could be partnered by Levi Colwill, or by Dan Burn. Reece James is back in the squad but Kyle Walker could start at right back with Trent Alexander-Arnold injured.
Tuchel will have to decide whether to use Jude Bellingham at No 10 or alongside Declan Rice, with Curtis Jones or Jordan Henderson options to play in a double-pivot and Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers or Eberechi Eze under consideration to play further further forward. Tuchel has described former Liverpool captain Henderson as the “glue” in his squad.
On the wings, Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford will compete for the spot on the left while injuries to Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer should see Phil Foden play off the right, although Jarrod Bowen is an option. Dominic Solanke has been named as Harry Kane’s back-up at striker.
Early England team news
12:35 , Mike JonesThomas Tuchel has no time to waste when it comes to shaping his plans for the 2026 World Cup: he has already confirmed that Harry Kane will be his captain and it would be no surprise to see England’s record scorer start alongside Jude Bellingham, with Declan Rice and Jordan Pickford also close to automatic picks.
Tuchel has played with both a back three and back four in his managerial career, but he most recently used a back four at Bayern Munich. There could well be a debutant at left back with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final hero Dan Burn options.
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s grand plan – and the reason England hired him
12:28 , Miguel DelaneyOne of the first things England’s young players noticed was how much Thomas Tuchel likes a laugh. He made them feel at ease. It’s an attitude that comes in handy for a question he was always going to get.
England’s new German manager was naturally asked about 1966, and the manner of the men’s national team’s only ever trophy victory. Did Geoff Hurst’s second goal cross the line?
“There is still debate,” Tuchel chuckles. “I don’t think so but there was no VAR at this time so it stands!”
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Inside Thomas Tuchel’s grand plan – and the reason England hired him
How can I watch it?
12:20 , Mike JonesEngland vs Albania will be shown live on ITV 1 and ITV X, with coverage getting underway from 7pm.
When is England vs Albania?
12:13 , Mike JonesThe match will kick-off at 7:45pm GMT on Friday 21 March at Wembley Stadium.
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England's new era begins
12:06 , Mike JonesEngland are in Group K of World Cup qualifying, along with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra, with the top team qualifying for the World Cup finals.
During this international break they will face Albania and Latvia with Thomas Tuchel hoping to get his tenure off to a winning start.
Good afternoon
12:00 , Jamie BraidwoodEngland begin a new era under Thomas Tuchel as the Three Lions kick off the road to the 2026 World Cup with a qualifier against Albania at Wembley.
Tuchel’s first game in charge comes as England target victory at the 2026 tournament, with the German coach signing an 18-month contract after succeeding Gareth Southgate as manager.
And Friday night’s fixture at Wembley will offer an early look at how Tuchel wants to shape his new England team, following spells in the club game with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
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