Thomas Tuchel: England squad creating ‘brotherhood’ ahead of World Cup | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel: England squad creating ‘brotherhood’ ahead of World Cup | OneFootball

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Evening Standard

·12 November 2025

Thomas Tuchel: England squad creating ‘brotherhood’ ahead of World Cup

Article image:Thomas Tuchel: England squad creating ‘brotherhood’ ahead of World Cup

Tuchel says players are building ‘strong bond’ that ‘everybody wants to join’

Thomas Tuchel believes England are creating a “brotherhood” and says no players tried to pull out of the squad for this international break.


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England captain Harry Kane was unhappy this time last year after nine players withdrew from the camp for Nations League games against Greece and Ireland.

Kane said: “I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest.” He added: “England comes before club”.

England booked their spot at next year’s World Cup last month by beating Serbia, and in the changing room after that game Kane made a point about the squad all returning for these final two qualifiers games, even though they are dead rubbers.

Article image:Thomas Tuchel: England squad creating ‘brotherhood’ ahead of World Cup

England have already qualified for the World Cup

The FA via Getty Images

Tuchel has had only two dropouts, with Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope forced to withdraw for the games with Serbia and Albania after suffering injuries last weekend.

But other than that, the England boss has kept his squad together and he believes it is evidence of the spirit forged under him.

“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 everybody wants to join,” said Tuchel.

“And to also build a competition, and to open up a competition, that everyone knows that, if they 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.

“And not even as a threat but the other way around, like that everybody is keen to come, everyone loves to come to camp, loves to perform for the country because it is an honour.

“The last step of elite football is to represent a country like England in a World Cup qualifier game, or the World Cup itself. That is the pinnacle and this is how it should feel.

“I think we are absolutely on the way. Everyone wanted to be part of the camp.

“Everybody is desperate to come. No one is giving us any signals that it is maybe time to rest because we have already qualified, and we will also not accept it.

“It is an energy that feeds itself, and this at the moment the place where we are.

“It is the absolute key for me, before tactics and before personnel. That is the key, everyone loves to be in a camp and loves to play for England, and enjoys it.”

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