Thomas Tuchel has revealed he experienced profound self-doubt following England’s laboured 1-0 triumph over New Zealand in their opening World Cup warm-up fixture in Tampa.
The German coach admitted the unconvincing performance left him questioning his suitability for the role.
“We all had our losses,” said Tuchel. “We all had our big defeats where you doubted yourself. Ask me how I felt after our 1-0 against New Zealand. I still remember thinking ‘Am I good enough, am I good enough? Did I get this right? OK, let’s keep on’.”
The England manager described such moments of uncertainty as entirely natural for anyone pursuing major honours.
Thomas Tuchel admitted he did not know if he was good enough for England
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“It’s just the way it is. It is just normal, but you accept it. And if you want to win a big prize, there is not an easy route to get there.”
Tuchel has issued a stirring call for his squad to seize their opportunity at the tournament ahead of today’s knockout encounter with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Atlanta.
The manager referenced the painful memory of England’s humiliating exit at the hands of Iceland a decade ago, when a squad containing Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, John Stones and Jordan Henderson were eliminated from the European Championship.
Yet Tuchel insisted that setback bears no relevance to the current campaign.
“I was not there 10 years ago, I don’t see how this has anything to do with what we do now. So go for it [at the World Cup].”
England boss Thomas Tuchel is currently preparing for Wednesday night’s showdown with DR Congo | GETTY
He acknowledged that past disappointments have left their mark on several players but maintained such experiences ultimately prove beneficial.
“Yes, we have some scars. It helps you, actually. It helps you to remember the moment, how painful it was.”
The England manager has drawn considerable inspiration from the recently released documentary chronicling Rafael Nadal’s illustrious tennis career, which he completed watching during his time in the United States.
Tuchel pointed to the Spanish champion’s journey as evidence that even the most decorated athletes endure significant hardship.
“Yes, but you will not find great athletes who didn’t suffer big defeats,” said Tuchel. “You just don’t find them. I just finished a documentary with Rafa Nadal.
“And even me, I thought he just wins every match out there every year. But you see, wow, a year of injuries, a heavy loss there, another big defeat, doubts, sleepless nights, self-doubts and questioning. Everyone around him doubting it.”
The German emphasised that setbacks remain an unavoidable component of sporting excellence.
“Even if you have scars, it is just the way it is. There is no way you get through this without.”
England are looking to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966
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Tuchel’s credentials in knockout competitions are beyond question, having guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 alongside victories in the Super Cup and Club World Cup.
The German’s meticulous approach to preparation stems from a painful lesson during the 2016 DFB-Pokal final, when his Borussia Dortmund side lost on penalties to Bayern Munich.
“I prepared everything. And then the whistle went [after extra time] and I was just not prepared. I forgot to prepare for a penalty shoot-out,” Tuchel admitted. “A very painful experience and a big, big scar on me.”
That defeat prompted him to develop comprehensive penalty protocols that remain in place today.
“It will never happen again. So from there, we started our own programme, our own preparation.”
