Tag: Thomas Tuchel

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Klopp starts Germany reign by threatening to quit

Jurgen Klopp started his reign as Germany’s head coach by threatening to quit if the media invades his family’s privacy.

The former Liverpool manager was appointed on a four-year deal on Friday to replace Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned this month after Germany’s shock World Cup defeat by Paraguay in the last 32.

But the 59-year-old issued a warning to the media as he held his first news conference as Germany’s head coach.

“If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away,” Klopp said.

“I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse.

“I’m not doing this job for myself, I’m doing it for you. I’m taking this job even though I’ve seen how you’ve treated Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.

Both Nagelsmann and England boss Tuchel came under media scrutiny after their exits from the World Cup, with Tuchel criticised for his defensive tactics and substitutions as the Three Lions let slip a 1-0 lead in their semi-final defeat by Argentina.

Klopp’s appointment was widely expected for weeks and his contract will see him through to the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.”

Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any ‘career’ after the national team,” he added.

“This is the pinnacle, the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.”

It is Klopp’s first coaching job since ending his nine-year tenure at Liverpool in the summer of 2024 after “running out of energy”.

He said he feels “the time is right” for his return to coaching and to take up his first role in international football.”

Over the last few days it was almost like a movie happening to myself,” he said.

“I have always surmised the job of Germany head coach is really big but now it is really dawning on me what being the national team head coach is all about.

“For many, many years it was unimaginable for me to assume this position. As the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job.

“Now I think the time is right.”

His first game in charge will be against the Netherlands in a Nations League group-stage match on 24 September. (BBC)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Harry Kane calls for calm after England’s World Cup epic against Mexico

Harry Kane said England need to “calm down” after the emotionally draining win over Mexico that took them through to the World Cup quarterfinals.

Thomas Tuchel’s 10-man team won 3-2 on Sunday after a memorable backs-to-the-wall performance against the co-hosts in Estadio Azteca.

England, back at their training base in Kansas City, are enjoying some downtime ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal against Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami.”

Into the next round. Incredible night, we appreciate the support. I know we had loads in the stadium and loads watching back home staying up late,” England captain Kane said in a video on social media.

“The connection with everyone is even stronger now and we feel that more than ever. We recover now, we calm down, we have a couple of days relaxing and then obviously get prepared for a massive quarterfinal.”

Kane, whose second-half penalty proved decisive, said the Azteca experience and the nature of the win made it one of his favorite games in an England shirt.

“Going into that game was so special, the atmosphere, the stadium… everyone was so excited to be there and play in this iconic game,” he said. “To come through the adversities in the game and battle through the way we did and put our bodies on the line and the boys covering every blade of grass was just incredible to be part of, to be honest.

“It’s one of my favorite games in an England shirt, without a doubt.”

The 32-year-old Bayern Munich forward will come up against Golden Boot rival Haaland on Saturday.

Kane has six goals so far at the World Cup — one behind top-scorers Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Haaland. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Kane rescues England from Congo calamity to reach last 16

Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late goals to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and secure a place in the last 16.

Aiming to end a 60-year wait to win a major tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s men escaped humiliation and one of England’s worst ever World Cup exits thanks to their talismanic captain after Brian Cipenga’s early goal gave Congo an early lead.

But the Three Lions will need to improve for the daunting task of facing co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in the last 16 on Sunday.

Already England’s all-time top goalscorer in the competition, Kane now has 13 World Cup goals and moves onto five for the tournament to remain in the the star-studded battle for the Golden Boot.

“What a crazy game, obviously,” said Kane. “I think you have to stay patient in these games. “Their keeper definitely made some unbelievable saves in that first half. And it was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock, and our moments will come.”

Defeat ended Congo’s fairytale run on their return to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

The Leopards had never even won a point or scored a goal at the World Cup until a few weeks ago, but had one of the tournament favorites teetering on the brink of elimination.

Tuchel made two changes from victory over Panama as Declan Rice return in midfield, while Djed Spence came in at right-back with Reece James and Jarell Quansah both ruled out through injury.

The German coach’s decision not to select more specialist right-back cover in a 26-man squad will face more scrutiny after Congo took the lead down that flank.

Spence was caught under Chancel Mbemba’s cross as the ball fell for Cipenga. The Almeria winger’s shot was low and hard but Jordan Pickford should still have kept it out at his near post.

The vast majority of the nearly 70,000 crowd decked out in England red and white were silenced, while Tuchel’s players were visibly rattled.

Jude Bellingham was shown a yellow card for a lunge lunge and was then involved in a heated exchange with his coach during the mid-half hydration break.

The stoppage in play at least allowed Tuchel the chance to restore order.

Bellingham’s powerful header from Declan Rice’s cross finally forced DR Congo ‘keeper Lionel Mpasi into action.

Moments later Marcus Rashford’s powerful effort was blocked on the line by London-born Aaron Wan Bissaka after Noni Madueke’s jinking run opened up the Congo defence.

Yet it could have been even worse for England at the break.

Yoane Wissa’s three goals in the group stage fired his country to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time and the Newcastle striker had a golden chance to double the DR Congo lead but hit the outside of the post from point-blank range. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

“We lacked seriousness” – Tuchel criticises England “attitude”

Thomas Tuchel criticised England’s “attitude” and felt they “played with fire” in a narrow 1-0 World Cup qualifying win away to Andorra.

The Three Lions laboured against the world’s 173rd-ranked side in Barcelona, squeezing out a third successive win through captain Harry Kane’s 50th-minute strike to top Group K.

Tuchel’s men were jeered off the pitch at half-time and again at the end, leaving the England manager “not happy” with the disappointing display.

“I was most worried in the last 20 minutes because I did not like the attitude that we ended the game with,” said the German.

“I didn’t like the lack of urgency and it did not match the occasion – it is still a World Cup qualifier. We will let them know [on Sunday] what we want from them.

“I think we lacked the seriousness and the urgency that is needed in a World Cup qualifier.

“I think we played with fire. I didn’t like the attitude in the end. I didn’t like the body language. It was not what the occasion needed.”

England dominated the ball with 83 per cent possession, but frustratingly could not break down Andorra’s well-organised defence and were mainly restricted to efforts from distance.

Kane slid home the winner from a Noni Madueke cross for his 72nd international goal, but the Three Lions had few clear-cut chances.

England next face Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Tuesday and Tuchel expects a better performance.

“I think we started well in the first 20 or 25 minutes,” he added. “We created a lot of chances and half chances, and we lost completely the momentum and couldn’t get it back in the first half.

“Got a little bit [back] in the second half, but then ended up in a place that was not good enough in terms of urgency.

“We can just admit that, it’s not what we expect from us. We need to look at it in detail and do better on Tuesday.”

There were some mitigating circumstances for England’s lethargic display.

The match came at the end of a long domestic campaign for many of the players and was also played in hot and humid conditions in Barcelona – this fixture played there because Andorra’s national stadium was unavailable after the recent Games of the Small States of Europe.

But those watching clearly expected England to put in a more convincing performance against a side they had beaten six times previously by an aggregate score of 25-0.

“It looked like some of the players were bored in the last half an hour,” former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane told ITV.

“Go and get some more goals and impress the manager who is still new to the job.”

Ex-England defender Lee Dixon added: “They will be getting pelters no doubt about that.

“When you are fourth [in the rankings] and they are 173rd you expect to beat them handsomely, but that wasn’t the case.”

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown agreed the performance was poor, but the priority was to get the job done in the bid for qualification to next year’s finals.

“It was a big disappointment but they did the job and won the game,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It could have been a lot more convincing in attacking positions. There is going to be criticism because of the team we were up against, but it is job done, move on to the next one.” (BBC)