Thomas Tuchel: How his England debut went – ​​Two goals against the murmuring

London. The boulevard leading from the subway station to Wembley Stadium is adorned with the evening's motto: "German Management - English Spirit," as it reads on banners on the lampposts along the roadside. A car manufacturer came up with the slogan, fitting for Thomas Tuchel's first game as England coach. His debut was destined to be a success. England beat Albania 2-0 to kick off their World Cup qualifiers. Notes on Tuchel's debut in three acts.

The first game of a German as England coach begins with a rout. This is how some English media interpret Tuchel's comments about his predecessor, Gareth Southgate, released ahead of the match against Albania. At last summer's European Championship, the English lacked virtually all the qualities of a successful team, claiming they were more afraid of losing than eager to win. Incidentally, England reached the final of the tournament, just as they had in the previous European Championship.

Under Tuchel, a final is also expected. Specifically, the World Cup final on July 19, 2026, in New Jersey. The coach's task is to make England world champions within his 18-month contract. First, however, is his debut at Wembley against Albania.

As darkness falls over northwest London, the crowd streams into the national stadium. More than 82,000 people will witness Tuchel's debut. Speaking to fans before the match, you hear a mixture of anticipation and skepticism. Sure, Tuchel is a world-class coach. But he's also a foreigner.

The fact that the motherland of football needs a coach from the continent is a blow to England's pride. Parts of the tabloid press consider Tuchel's appointment treason. The German must therefore prove himself from day one. A win against Albania isn't enough. The victory must be spectacular.

The acoustics at Wembley hadn't realized that the evening was going to be special. About ten minutes before kickoff, a film was shown on the video screens. Tuchel was visible, and his voice was heard over the loudspeakers. But what he was saying was impossible to understand. The fans preferred to greet the new man visually. As the teams walked onto the pitch, they presented his banner reading: "Welcome to the home of football, Thomas!" Welcome to the motherland.

Welcome to the motherland: England fans greet Thomas Tuchel.

Source: Alastair Grant/AP/dpa

As announced, Tuchel refrains from singing the English national anthem, but afterward he is quite active. He experiences his first game as England coach mostly standing up, making full use of the huge coaching zone. He often calls individual players over to give them instructions. After the first goal of his tenure, the striker by debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 20th minute, Tuchel clenches his fists but allows himself only a brief moment of exuberance. Then he is back in conversation with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, whom he has ordered to the touchlines. Intensity is Tuchel's magic word. His coaching during the game is also intense.

The English clearly dominated the match, enjoying 80 percent of the ball at times and moving the ball around the pitch faster than under Southgate. However, they created few chances. Therefore, midway through the first half, something happened that has been a fixture at England matches at Wembley for years, signaling that the crowd was bored. The first paper airplanes flew from the stands. When one of them landed on the pitch, the stadium cheered. Otherwise, for much of the match, a carpet of murmuring hung over the Wembley stands. The Albanian section was the busiest.

The coach and his captain: Tuchel (r.) with Harry Kane.

Source: Adam Davy/PA Wire/dpa

In the second half, the away fans were repeatedly on their feet as their team got closer to the goal, but England snatched the victory with ease. Tuchel didn't respond to Harry Kane's 2-0 goal in the 77th minute by addressing individual players. Instead, he simply stood there, hands in his pockets, watching the team celebrate. His team. Tuchel seemed to be settling into his job at this moment.

When the game is over, the crowd applauds politely. The players do a lap of honor, and Tuchel stays in the background. No triumphant gestures in front of the fans, no Tuchel chants from the spectators. Such folklore contradicts English reserve. But the coach and the fans still have 18 months to get closer.

At 10:07 p.m. local time, Tuchel enters the press conference room, which, with its ascending rows of seats, resembles a movie theater. Tuchel knows that some of the reporters sitting opposite him would prefer an Englishman as national coach, but he completes the obligatory debriefing with aplomb. He sits in front of a wall of sponsors, arms crossed, and speaks in fluent English about his first evening as England coach. He says he was "a little nervous," but describes the match as a "great experience."

Tuchel leaves no doubt that much work remains: "We will improve, we will get more into the rhythm, I will get to know the players better." The coach is only asked tactical questions. That's the norm in England. A German reporter would like to know what significance the evening holds for Tuchel. The English press officer consistently ignores him.

When Tuchel leaves the press room after about 13 minutes, some of his players are still working. On the pitch, the reserves are playing a training game on a small pitch with two goals. Their shouts echo through the empty, but still lit, Wembley. At some point, the players disappear into the locker room, and then it's truly over: the day on which a German coaches England's national team for the first time.