When we asked five key questions of Thomas Tuchel a few days ago, Fans, midfield balance, attacking selection, form versus reputation, and the ever-elusive knockout breakthrough, felt like open wounds. England have been promising but not convincing, talented but tentative under Tuchel’s leadership, but hesitancy remains ahead of next summer.

Now, with the 2026 World Cup less than eight months away, Tuchel has made decisions, drawn lines, and, as ever, ruffled a few feathers. Here’s how England’s German coach appears to be answering each of those five dilemmas, in his own meticulous, slightly uncompromising way.

Engaging with the fans

Tuchel’s complaints about Wembley’s lack of atmosphere didn’t go down well, but to his credit, he’s since learned from that episode. In recent months, he’s opened up more in interviews, shown a drier sense of humour, and made deliberate efforts to bring fans closer to the team.

Tuchel will never be a showman in the mould of Jürgen Klopp or the late Sir Bobby Robson, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s starting to project warmth and authenticity, which is often enough to win over English supporters who simply want to believe their manager “gets it.”

Midfield balance — a clearer structure

England’s midfield is no longer the jigsaw it once was. Tuchel’s recent line-ups suggest a settled core: Declan Rice as the single pivot, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden operating ahead of him in more defined, complementary roles.

Rice has been encouraged to stay deeper, recycling possession and protecting the back four, while Bellingham, flourishing again at Real Madrid, is being trusted as the team’s dynamic carrier between lines. Foden, meanwhile, is no longer shunted wide but allowed to drift centrally, linking with Kane and Palmer in the pockets.

Behind them, the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton have been integrated gradually, Tuchel clearly sees them as future fixtures rather than token call-ups. The system is starting to make sense: a balance of steel, energy, and guile. For the first time in a long time, England’s midfield looks both modern and functional.

Attacking selections — quality trimmed into clarity

The biggest problem Tuchel inherited was abundance. Every England manager since Sven-Göran Eriksson has wrestled with too many attacking options and too few spots to fit them. But Tuchel’s recent choices hint at a clear hierarchy.

Harry Kane remains untouchable, but around him, the picture has sharpened: Bukayo Saka is a guaranteed starter on the right, Cole Palmer has played his way into the left-sided role through form and intelligence, and Foden is being trusted as an inside forward rather than a touchline winger.

Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, both previously automatic picks, now find themselves competing for impact roles off the bench, something Tuchel has been unafraid to clarify publicly. “It’s not about names, it’s about how the pieces fit,” he said after England’s win over Belgium in September.

This streamlined front line may not please everyone, but it has given England rhythm and fluency, and finally, a recognisable identity going forward.

Form vs reputation — Tuchel holding his nerve

If one thing defines Tuchel’s England, it’s meritocracy. He’s been consistent in his message: past achievements don’t guarantee future selection. When he left out Bellingham briefly in early autumn to “manage fatigue and form,” it raised eyebrows, but it also reinforced his authority.

Players now know that performances matter, not just profiles. Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Wharton have been rewarded for their club form, while veterans like Henderson and Grealish have been reminded that international football is not a testimonial circuit.

Tuchel’s stance might feel ruthless, but it’s created an accountability that England squads sometimes lacked. He’s built competition into the culture, and that could be crucial come June, when sharpness will mean everything.

Getting England over the line — calm, not chaos

Tuchel has never been a manager who does chaos. His teams are built on structure, detail, and mental preparation. And quietly, he’s been laying the foundations for England to finally deliver when it matters.

The psychological work behind the scenes has been significant: England have partnered with sports psychologists and introduced scenario-based training sessions, penalty shootouts, late-game simulations, “pressure drills.” Tuchel knows all too well that tournaments aren’t just about tactics; they’re about emotional control.

Tactically, too, he’s shown pragmatism. England can now switch between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-2-1 without confusion, allowing for in-game adaptability that past sides lacked.

Tuchel’s ultimate test will come in those tense knockout nights next summer. But for the first time in years, England look like a team equipped to handle them, tactically sharp, emotionally grounded, and, whisper it, maybe even ready.

The Verdict

Tuchel hasn’t solved everything, and he won’t please everyone, but that’s never been his job. His England is leaner, calmer, and more serious about the details. The foundations of a contender are there: a clear midfield structure, a balanced front line, a merit-based culture, and a manager who finally seems to understand the emotional pulse of English football.

The five big questions we asked of him aren’t all closed, but they’ve been answered well enough to give fans belief. And in English football, that’s half the battle won.