England: Thomas Tuchel issues 'underdogs' statement as Three Lions eye World Cup glory | OneFootball

Former Chelsea boss was hired with the objective of challenging for the sport’s top prize

Thomas Tuchel insists England will be “underdogs” at the World Cup next summer and says that situation will not change — because they have won nothing since 1966.

He also said England can benefit from not being favourites to win the tournament.

The Three Lions, who are ranked fourth in the world, reached both of the last two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate but have failed to get over the line since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966.

Tuchel made headlines last Friday when he left Jude Bellingham out of his squad for Thursday’s Wembley friendly against Wales and next Tuesday’s qualifier in Latvia because he wished to keep the squad the same as last month where possible, after finding “harmony” and a much-improved performance in winning 5-0 in Serbia.

“We need to arrive as the best team. We will arrive as underdogs at the World Cup because we haven’t won it for decades and we will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time — so we have to arrive as a team or we will have no chance.”

Challenged on the suggestion that England, regularly viewed among the favourites before any tournament, will be World Cup ‘underdogs’, Tuchel said: “If you’ve never won Wimbledon, you are maybe one of the favourites, but you are not the favourite.

“You can go and if you come close, okay, you are within the pool, but you are not the favourite. It is just how it is.

“There is Brazil, there is Argentina, Spain, France and they just did it [won the World Cup] recently. It doesn’t mean we have no chance, and we know very well, first we will qualify and then we will know exactly why we go there.

“We want to go all the way, 100 per cent, but the role has to be clear. I will not regard us as the favourites.”

Tuchel insisted that situation would need to change even if an unexpected drop-off in form from other major nations follows in the coming international breaks.

“Because of history,” he said, “Because of the climate, because of the circumstances.”

Asked whether an underdog mentality and injection of humility can benefit England in North America next summer, the head coach explained: “Yes, I think it helps us if we have our role clear once we arrive.

“Let’s go step by step and it just buys into the other step. We build a team that is ready to go step by step and play as a team, and no one wants, hopefully, to play against us.”