For decades, England has struggled to shed its label as international football’s perennial underachiever. Despite winning the World Cup on home turf back in 1966, that remains their sole triumph, and in the years since, they have spent much of their time as a team brimming with talent but failing to deliver when it matters most. Gareth Southgate was the most recent man to attempt to make the Three Lions roar, and he came closer than any manager has in the past six decades.

The former Middlesbrough led England to back-to-back European Championship finals as well as a World Cup semifinal. Unfortunately, however, he came up short on each occasion, losing the showpiece fixtures to Italy and Spain, as well as being downed by Croatia in Russia’s final four. Now, former Chelsea Champions League-winning boss Thomas Tuchel has been tasked with bringing the World Cup trophy home.

The last two decades have been littered with near-misses, controversial exits, and dashed hopes. But the Southgate years have provided a glimmer of light. Now the baton has been passed to Tuchel, but what twists and turns does he need to navigate on his road to potential 2026 World Cup glory?

Shedding the Underachiever Tag

England’s failure to win a major international trophy in over half a century isn’t for lack of talent. Players like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Wayne Rooney all graced the national team during their primes, yet the so-called “Golden Generation” never lived up to expectations. Now, the Three Lions have a fresh batch of gold, but they need to succeed where those who came before them failed.

Much of the “forever disappointing” narrative has shifted in recent years, thanks to Southgate’s ability to instill a sense of togetherness within the squad. England has reached at least the semifinals in their last four major tournaments, and online sports betting sites fancy their chances of doing the same in 18 months. The latest World Cup odds from popular Crypto sports betting sites currently make England a 7/1 joint favorite for the trophy, alongside France and Brazil.

Barring the 2022 defeat to France, they have now somewhat curbed their quarterfinal curse. But just as the last eight wasn’t enough before, semifinals and finals aren’t enough now. It’s time to win something.

Getting the Best Out Of Jude Bellingham

England is blessed with a host of bright young talent, and few shine brighter than Jude Bellingham. At just 21 years old, the former Birmingham City youngster already commands the midfield with a maturity well beyond his years. He was the star of the show for Real Madrid last season, top-scoring with 23 goals in all competitions en route to a Champions League and La Liga double. At Euro 2024, he provided similarly big moments, netting the winner against Serbia and keeping England in the tournament with a sensational 96th-minute overhead kick in the second-round clash with Slovakia.

However, at the tournament, Southgate attempted to keep his star man in the same role he was playing in the Spanish capital, in a number ten position just behind the striker. Throughout his fledgling career, that hasn’t been where he has been primarily used, instead playing in a somewhat more box-to-box role. Now, Tuchel has to decide whether to stick with the blueprint crafted by Carlo Ancelotti and continued by Gareth Southgate or instead revert to his perceived better-suited box-to-box role, contributing both defensively and offensively.

Tuchel’s Chelsea tenure highlighted his ability to adapt to individual players while keeping his system intact, but this will require finesse. Deploy Bellingham too deep, and you limit his offensive contributions; push him too far forward, and England risks losing midfield control. This decision will shape the team’s identity in the coming years and must be resolved sooner rather than later.

Finding the Right Balance Between Attack and Defense

England’s current squad boasts unparalleled attacking options. Captain Harry Kane, Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka, and Chelsea wonderboy Cole Palmer are all proven match-winners. And that’s without even mentioning the likes of Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, and Jack Grealish. But as dazzling as these players can be, England’s Achilles’ heel has often been finding the right balance between offensive flair and defensive stability.

Outgoing boss Southgate was considered too pragmatic, and that ultimately cost him the support of both supporters and the media. Despite his wealth of attacking riches, the former manager still opted to sit his team deep, reluctant to press, play through the lines, and simply take the games to the opposition. Instead, he sat back, soaked up the pressure, and relied on individual brilliance. And that worked, to an extent, but not enough to bring home silverware.

However, going all out attack also doesn’t work, as interim manager Lee Carsley found out. The former Under-21’s manager attempted to cram his starting eleven full of attacking talents in a recent Nations League clash at home to Greece. What resulted was a team left wide open on the counterattack, with the Greeks duly ripping them apart and picking up a famous 2-1 victory.

Tuchel is renowned for building tactically sound teams. His Chelsea side, which won the 2021 Champions League, was a defensive masterclass, conceding just four goals in the knockout stages. However, critics have also accused him of leaning too heavily on cautious football. For England — a side brimming with attacking talent — this could risk stifling their creativity. But as Southgate found out, don’t attack enough and the critics will begin to circle like sharks, ramping up the pressure to unbearable levels. 

England’s Road to 2026 World Cup Glory Under Thomas Tuchel