The vast majority of people in Norway hope that England will go far in the World Cup, at the same time there are many who like and believe national team manager Thomas Tuchel is the right man for the job.
The English Football Association (FA) has already assessed what will happen to Thomas Tuchel if England lose to Mexico on Tuesday night – and the decision is not as easy as many think.
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Sporten.com expert panel has been unsure about Thomas Tuchel from the start and we believe he is hampering England’s journey towards World Cup gold.
After the nerve-wracking victory over DR Congo, England face a daunting challenge: host Mexico at the Azteca stadium, Had the match been played anywhere else, the Three Lions would have been clear favourites. But Mexico’s insane home record, combined with the challenges of playing at high altitude, gives El Tri a real advantage.
Tuchel’s team has not been convincing in this championship either. They were only 15 minutes away from going out against underdogs DR Congo – before captain Harry Kane saved them at the last minute.
Contract with clauses – and a possible goodbye
The 52-year-old German was brought in as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor with a single goal: to win the World Cup. Not surprisingly, speculation about his future is starting to take off.
Shortly before the championship, Tuchel extended his contract to cover the 2028 European Championship, which England will co-host alongside Scotland, Wales and Ireland. However, the deal contains performance clauses that allow the FA to sack him without having to pay large sums of compensation if certain targets are not met.
An exit in the last eight would mark England’s worst performance in a major championship since Roy Hodgson’s team were humiliated by Iceland in the European Championship ten years ago.
The FA has already made a decision
According to The Telegraph, Tuchel would almost certainly have been sacked if England had lost to DR Congo. But no matter what happens in Mexico City, he should be safe – at least for now.
The FA will take into account the difficulty of the draw when assessing the manager’s performance at the end of the tournament. Unless something catastrophic happens, the plan is to keep him at the helm.
Should England surprise and beat the hosts, a nightmare road to glory awaits: Brazil, Argentina and France. Defeats against any of these giants will not change the plans of the FA either.
The atmosphere in the camp – and the criticism
The Football Association’s decision will also be influenced by the mood in the England camp, which is said to be very positive despite poor results and Tuchel’s demanding leadership style.
Admittedly, there has been criticism that Trent Alexander-Arnold was not taken out in the middle of an injury crisis at right-back. But sources in the camp do not share this opinion – and believe the manager has simply been unlucky with the squad’s form.
Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, has been linked with a return to club football after the World Cup. But since most of the high-profile jobs are now filled, he is not expected to be tempted away.
One thing is certain: Tuesday night in Mexico City could be fateful for Tuchel – and for England’s World Cup hopes.
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