‘Precious brotherhood’ proves England have solved key issue, Tuchel says | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has labelled the “brotherhood" being built within the England camp as “precious” – a year after Harry Kane questioned some players' commitment.

The back-to-back European Championship runners-up secured their spot at the World Cup with two games to spare.

Yet, no let-up is expected for their home tie against Serbia on Thursday or the away fixture in Albania three days later.

This qualification double-header arrives 12 months after England captain Kane suggested some team-mates had forgotten the importance of representing their country following a spate of withdrawals.

Those remarks came during Lee Carsley’s interim spell, but the unity key under Gareth Southgate is being cultivated again by Tuchel.

“What we are trying is to build a strong bond, to build an energy, to build a group, to build a team, to build a brotherhood that everyone wants to join,” the England boss said.

“And to also build a competition and to open up a competition that everyone knows, ‘If I pull out in the wrong moment, if I pull out from a 50-50 situation, the door can be closed because someone else takes my shirt, someone else takes my place’.

“Not even as a threat, but the other way around – that everyone is keen to come, that everyone loves to come to camp, loves to perform for the country because it is an honour and this is the last step of elite football to represent a country like England in a World Cup qualifying game or in a World Cup itself.

Tuchel has hailed the atmosphere in the camp (John Walton/PA)

“It’s the pinnacle. This is how it should feel, so I think we are absolutely on the (right) way. Everyone wanted to be part of the camps, everyone is desperate to come.

“No-one is giving us any signals that this may be a good time to rest because we have already qualified and we will also not accept it, so it’s an energy that feeds itself.”

Asked how precious it was to retain that feeling, Tuchel said: “Very precious. It’s the absolute key for me, before tactics, before personnel and whatever.

“That is the key – everyone loves to be in camp, loves to play for England and enjoys it.”

Tuchel is happy with how the group are developing and says he would know eight of his starting line-up if the World Cup began tomorrow.

But the German is only interested in the Serbia qualifier, which is England’s first match at Wembley since he criticised the atmosphere in October’s friendly against Wales.

“If they do what we expect them to do defensively, it can be maybe difficult to accelerate the game,” Tuchel said.

“The best moment maybe to accelerate the game and to bring intensity is off the ball, meaning implement our high pressing and go after them from minute one to do everything that the spark reaches our fans, and then hopefully it’s a good atmosphere.”

Tuchel repeated that it is on England “to get the spark and inspire” fans, some of whom teased him in Latvia with chants related to his atmosphere comments.

“Do I regret saying it? No,” he said. “It was a genuine reaction

“If you only go in life and you only say (what people want to hear) then you become a fish. I am not a fish. Like you dribble around every corner just to avoid (things).”