Former England goalkeeper David James is ready for tonight’s giant clash against Argentina. In an interview with Metro, he talks about Tuchel, Bellingham – and how England have to keep a cool head in the face of both opponents and rumours.
Tuchel isn’t getting the best out of England yet – and that’s okay
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We know that Thomas Tuchel is a very demanding coach. We saw it again after the win over Norway, with his comments after the game. But it seems to benefit the team. He also said it after the Mexico game: that he was disappointed that he hadn’t seen what he sees in training – on the pitch. All the levels this team can reach.
Tuchel says what he thinks. He is consistent. I don’t think it’s about perfection. His expectations are so high because he knows what the team is capable of. The team is capable of playing better. The conditions on Saturday were not necessarily favorable for that, but he knows that there is another level.
When you look at the performances, you understand why. Declan Rice in the first half – it was obvious that he was not fit enough to continue. You expect Declan Rice to do certain things. While they’re not at the highest level, you’d still expect a very decent level of consistency. Unfortunately, Declan didn’t.
It seemed like Elliot Anderson found himself in a difficult situation because of it. It wasn’t until Declan stepped down that Anderson grew into his best control.
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Is Tuchel getting the best out of England? No – because as he said: we haven’t seen the best of England yet. We have two games left, and we hope the second of them will be the final. In one of these two games, we will see the best of England.
Ideally, it will be the final on Sunday. He has set up the stand, Thomas Tuchel. I think he has been very clear in his message, very honest. I think only the team responds. You didn’t see any disappointment on Saturday. Again, we were down by one goal against Norway – but our heads didn’t go down. If anything, the gear shift gave them the energy to get up.
Respect between Tuchel and Bellingham
I thought the comments from Tuchel and Bellingham after the game were very interesting. I think it was a case of Jude not fully understanding Gabriel Clarke’s interpretation of Tuchel. Jude was also high on adrenaline right after winning a football match – and may not have processed that information.
They are both alpha males. I think it’s respect, and that’s the kind of challenge both of you like – because they get results. If there was a fight, or if Tuchel wasn’t happy with anyone, we would all know about it.
I think it’s a sporting side where you see his frustration on the sidelines, but I don’t think anything is personal. He knows, through the success he has had dealing with highly talented alpha males in the football community, how to get the best out of them. What we’re seeing now, I think, is the best version of Jude Bellingham for a lot of different reasons.
I would like to think that in the dressing room, at the first opportunity, there was a conversation. A bit like: “Ah, that’s what you meant. Okay, fine.”
Tuchel is not afraid to say how he feels in public – because of the respect and understanding the players have had with him privately. And as a result, we get the best version of Bellingham.
Argentina, conspiracy theories and how to shut it out
We’ve all seen some of the things that have happened in the World Cup. One could argue that Argentina has been given the green light on more than one occasion. That adds to the tension. But when it comes to England, one has to ignore the noise. You have to play your own game – because England’s success has come with doing the right thing.
If you start to think that those in charge are trying to get you knocked out, it will make you play the game differently. If you go into it sincerely and try to do what you always do—and if it’s ultimately not good enough because your opponents are better—then you raise your hands and say they were better. If it’s because of something else, then at least you know you did the right thing.
As an observer, it frustrates me. I don’t like what I’ve seen. If it wasn’t for England doing the right thing, I would have had a very hard time enjoying this World Cup. But this is where we are, and this is a game that is good enough to be a final.
No matter what conspiracies people have, I don’t think the Argentine team has ever been or is involved in anything. I don’t think they stand on the pitch and say, ‘Okay, we’ve already won this, we don’t have to play.’ That would be obvious. You saw Messi celebrating in the last eight after beating Egypt, and when Julián Álvarez scored the other night. They have had to work very hard.
A beautiful semi-final
This is a team that won the World Cup in the most dramatic way. England face a team that has just as much determination, passion and drive – and never gives up. It’s perfect.
I keep going back to Tuchel. I know he wants the plan, he wants the words – and I trust that our players are good enough. They prove it. Better than they have been before. We have Harry Kane in the shape of his life, we have Jude Bellingham in the shape of his life. We’ve seen glimpses of people like Anthony Gordon doing things that have been amazing.
I just feel like this is the game. That must be enough. I think this is going to be one of the most raw and energetic games ever. I actually dread that so much energy will go into this game – that we fear for Sunday in the final, if we have enough energy left. But we’ll take it when we get there.
