Superb goals from Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold helped England wrap up the international break in style with a 3–1 victory over Finland in Helsinki. However, the routine win was undoubtedly overshadowed by the Football Association’s major announcement: Thomas Tuchel would be the new head coach of England.
Tuchel has signed on an 18-month contract that will last up until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. His appointment sees him become the first German and third foreign head coach of England, after previous stints from Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. The ex-Chelsea manager will be officially appointed on January 1st 2025, with interim boss Lee Carsley continuing to take charge for the remainder of 2024.
The match against Finland was a predominantly comfortable affair for England. The opening goal came from a wonderfully timed reverse pass by England’s new boy Angel Gomes who played it precisely through to Jack Grealish who opened up his body and found the bottom corner. For Grealish, this was his third start under Interim manager Lee Carsley and his second goal in as many games under the new boss. From there England were dominant without truly wowing, until the 74th minute, when Trent Alexander-Arnold bent home a delightful free kick to give the three lions a 2-goal advantage. Declan Rice went on to add England’s third as he converted Ollie Watkins cross, who had come on as a substitute. Finland finally inflicted some damage on England’s back line as Arttu Hoskonen ran free to head home from a corner; however, this was merely defensive irritation for Lee Carsley’s men, who looked comfortable throughout as they made it three wins out of four for the Birmingham born interim boss.
Comfortable was precisely the type of evening Lee Carsley needed after England’s frantic Thursday night clash with Greece. If the historic loss to Greece was the fuel of uncertainty surrounding England’s future, then Sunday was a return to the tranquil progress seen in September. Tuchel’s pending arrival will look to bring new life and excitement to the national set up, and go one-step further than Southgate and lift a major trophy for the first time since 1966.
However, Ex-England right back and pundit Gary Neville labelled the appointment a “shock” and Jamie Carragher said “it is embarrassing, that we as a nation, need a foreign coach to be successful’. While the appointment of a German coach may be controversial, if Tuchel succeeds the questions around his nationality will be obsolete. As a coach, he plays a much more fluid and high press system than Southgate, and his time in England showed he can take a team struggling and without ideas and turn them into champions, like he did with Chelsea, as he lifted the Champions League in 2021.
In his first press conference, Tuchel described the role as “a huge privilege” and lamented his love for living and working in the country following his time at Chelsea. Only time will tell if the German will rally the Three Lions, but all eyes will be on him when he takes to the Wembley dugout next March.