England manager Thomas Tuchel says he wants the team to play with a «hunger to win» and not «a fear to lose» as he prepares for his first match in charge of the Three Lions.
England begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Albania at Wembley on Friday before facing Latvia on Monday.
Under former boss Gareth Southgate, England reached back-to-back European Championship finals but Tuchel was critical of their style of play at Euro 2024.
«I’ve heard a lot that it’s a heavy shirt. It is in fact not. But I know what the players mean,» he said in a news conference on Thursday.
«Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose.
«I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win…and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football.»
Southgate led England to the final at Euro 2020 and 2024 — where they lost to Italy and Spain, respectively — and guided them to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals in 2022.
But the 54-year-old was criticised by some for a perceived safety-first style at Euro 2024, where England scraped past Serbia in the group stage before drawing against Denmark and Slovenia.
Wins against Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands followed in the knockout stage but Southgate came under fire for being unable to get the best out of a star-studded squad.
England captain Harry Kane says it feels like now is the time to take the next step and win a tournament.
«We have been extremely close to being two-time European champions,» he told BBC Radio 5 live.
«We have been as successful as any other team for England for the last 15 years, but ultimately you are going to be judged on whether you win finals or not.
«Early on in Gareth’s reign we spoke about getting to semi-finals, getting to finals, and keep repeating that.
«We are kind of at that stage now and now it’s about winning something.»
