THOMAS TUCHEL revealed he regrets not eating the GRASS from the Azteca pitch to mark England’s memorable win in Mexico at the World Cup.
While the England boss reckons Euro 2028 will be easier to prepare for than the World Cup in North America.
Tuchel was reflecting on this summer’s tournament with former Three Lions striker Daniel Sturridge and spoke about how he hopes to build on the campaign to end 62 years of hurt in two summers’ time.
England finished third at the World Cup, having lost to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a heartbreaking semi-final.
Tuchel described that loss – for which he was heavily criticised for his defensive tactics – as “painful”.
But without doubt the highlight was the 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca, where England ground out a victory despite playing for much of the second half with ten men.
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Tuchel said: “If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment when Jordan (Henderson) fell over and broke his arm (after the final whistle).
“Like within a second, every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going nowhere in full empathy. It was just so special.
“I texted a friend after the match and I just wrote that I regret that I didn’t eat some grass after the match to keep something (from the experience) in my body forever.
“That was the feeling. That was the moment.”
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Tuchel takes charge of his first games after the World Cup during the upcoming international break, facing Spain, Croatia and Czech Republic twice in the Nations League.
He talked about how England played ten games in North America this summer, including the two warm-ups in Florida, and how the plan is to do the same at the Euros in 2028.
The ex-Chelsea chief added: “There’s a huge bond to these players, it feels like they are my players now.
“This is the beauty of it, when you have a manager and you have success and you have painful moments together.
“You have so much time together and you create a natural bond. I’m happy to see them, I’m happy to challenge them.
“I’m happy to push them and very proud to be a part of that. I’m excited to work with these players. I’m excited to have new young players that we can bring into camp and they can learn.
“I think we got another step closer and I think we’re there. It’s very difficult to prepare for a World Cup in the US. But I think it’s possible to prepare for a Euros.
“The target is to have another ten matches. We had ten matches in the US, eight wins, one draw, one painful loss. But that is something to build on.
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“We have all the right to hold our heads high and go with courage and positivity into the next challenges.”
The full interview with Tuchel will be available on Wednesday on the England App.
No upcoming fixtures
See More
Sunday 19 July
Spain
1 – 0
AET
Argentina
Saturday 18 July
France
4 – 6
3rd Place Final
England
Wednesday 15 July
England
1 – 2
Semi-finals
Argentina
Tuesday 14 July
France
0 – 2
Semi-finals
Spain
Group A
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
6
3
0
0
2
3
4
-1
1
1
1
3
3
3
-1
1
0
2
4
3
1
-4
0
1
2
Group B
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
4
2
1
0
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
3
3
4
-1
1
1
1
4
3
1
-8
0
1
2
Group C
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
6
2
1
0
2
3
7
3
2
1
0
3
3
3
-3
1
0
2
4
3
0
-6
0
0
3
Group D
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
-2
1
1
1
4
3
3
-2
1
0
2
Group E
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
6
6
2
0
1
2
3
6
2
2
0
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
1
-8
0
1
2
Group F
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
6
2
1
0
2
3
5
4
1
2
0
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
0
-10
0
0
3
Group G
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
5
4
1
2
0
2
3
5
2
1
2
0
3
3
3
0
0
3
0
4
3
1
-6
0
1
2
Group H
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
5
2
1
0
2
3
3
0
0
3
0
3
3
2
-1
0
2
1
4
3
2
-4
0
2
1
Group I
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
8
3
0
0
2
3
6
1
2
0
1
3
3
3
2
1
0
2
4
3
0
-11
0
0
3
Group J
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
7
3
0
0
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
-2
1
1
1
4
3
0
-5
0
0
3
Group K
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
3
2
1
0
2
3
5
5
1
2
0
3
3
4
1
1
1
1
4
3
0
-9
0
0
3
Group L
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
4
2
1
0
2
3
6
0
2
0
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
0
-4
0
0
3
3rd Place Ranking
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
4
0
1
1
1
5
3
4
-1
1
1
1
6
3
4
-2
1
1
1
7
3
4
-2
1
1
1
8
3
3
2
1
0
2
No upcoming fixtures
See More
Sunday 19 July
Spain
1 – 0
AET
Argentina
Saturday 18 July
France
4 – 6
3rd Place Final
England
Wednesday 15 July
England
1 – 2
Semi-finals
Argentina
Tuesday 14 July
France
0 – 2
Semi-finals
Spain
Group A
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
6
3
0
0
2
3
4
-1
1
1
1
3
3
3
-1
1
0
2
4
3
1
-4
0
1
2
Group B
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
4
2
1
0
2
3
4
5
1
1
1
3
3
4
-1
1
1
1
4
3
1
-8
0
1
2
Group C
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
6
2
1
0
2
3
7
3
2
1
0
3
3
3
-3
1
0
2
4
3
0
-6
0
0
3
Group D
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
-2
1
1
1
4
3
3
-2
1
0
2
Group E
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
6
6
2
0
1
2
3
6
2
2
0
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
1
-8
0
1
2
Group F
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
6
2
1
0
2
3
5
4
1
2
0
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
0
-10
0
0
3
Group G
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
5
4
1
2
0
2
3
5
2
1
2
0
3
3
3
0
0
3
0
4
3
1
-6
0
1
2
Group H
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
5
2
1
0
2
3
3
0
0
3
0
3
3
2
-1
0
2
1
4
3
2
-4
0
2
1
Group I
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
8
3
0
0
2
3
6
1
2
0
1
3
3
3
2
1
0
2
4
3
0
-11
0
0
3
Group J
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
7
3
0
0
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
-2
1
1
1
4
3
0
-5
0
0
3
Group K
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
3
2
1
0
2
3
5
5
1
2
0
3
3
4
1
1
1
1
4
3
0
-9
0
0
3
Group L
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
7
4
2
1
0
2
3
6
0
2
0
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
0
-4
0
0
3
3rd Place Ranking
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
0
1
1
1
3
3
4
0
1
1
1
4
3
4
0
1
1
1
5
3
4
-1
1
1
1
6
3
4
-2
1
1
1
7
3
4
-2
1
1
1
8
3
3
2
1
0
2