Thomas Tuchel has pointed out that England’s own ball‑play turned into a liability during their 3‑2 loss to Spain. The Three Lions, who had been praised for a flawless defensive record throughout the World Cup qualifying phase, found themselves exposed at the hands of the reigning world and European champions on Saturday. Goals from the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, midfielder Alex Baena and seasoned forward Mikel Oyarzabal sealed a painful defeat for England, highlighting a series of costly errors in the final third. The English side, which had not conceded a single goal in the entire qualifying campaign, have now allowed nine goals across their last three fixtures – a stark contrast to the solidity they displayed against Argentina and France earlier in the Nations League.
While the defensive shape and collective organization have not been called into question by Tuchel, he believes the root of the problem lies in the way the players handle the ball when they are in possession. "It’s not a concern yet," Tuchel remarked ahead of England’s upcoming Nations League clash with the Czech Republic on Tuesday. "In terms of organised defending, block defending and active defending, we were at a higher level than in many other matches. If you look at the structure and the units within the team, I was quite happy – it was a step ahead." He went on to explain that the team’s primary issue was not the defensive system but the individual mistakes that occurred during the build‑up phase.
"We suffered clearly from individual errors when we had the ball, especially in the deep build‑up, and that is something we cannot repeat at this level," he said. "Strangely enough, when we had the ball, we were the biggest danger to ourselves around the box because we made too many individual mistakes. Purely in defending, I have no concerns and I trust that we can do it." Tuchel’s comments come amid a wave of criticism that followed England’s semi‑final exit from the World Cup, where his tactical decision to sit back and protect a one‑goal lead against Argentina was heavily scrutinised. After that match, he suggested that England’s footballing DNA does not prioritise possession in the same way as Spanish or South American teams.
"I think ball possession plays a crucial role; it’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in Spanish DNA or in Argentinian‑Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball," he explained. Despite the criticism, Tuchel defended his side’s identity, arguing that the players displayed their characteristic style and courage during the defeat at Wembley. "There was a lot of discussion before the Spain game," he said.
"I think we showed our style and we showed our courage. The players showed an identity and they showed it throughout the 90 minutes. We gave them a lot of problems. We caused ourselves some problems with individual mistakes.
Mistakes can sometimes happen. They shouldn’t, but they did happen." He highlighted that England pushed forward even when they were leading, maintaining an attacking mindset that kept the Spanish side under pressure.
"We kept attacking when we were a goal ahead. We were even more dominant and more of a threat. We were a little bit self‑responsible for the break in momentum towards the end of the match, but overall we have a lot of positives to take away," Tuchel added. Looking ahead, England’s schedule includes a home fixture against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, at 7.45 pm, followed by an away game against Croatia on October 3 at 5 pm, and a return clash with the Czechs on October 6 at 7.45 pm.
Tuchel’s focus will be on tightening the team’s possession phases, reducing careless errors, and ensuring that the defensive unit remains as solid as it has been in recent years. Fans can follow the upcoming matches through Sky Sports’ live match blog and app, and a Q&A session with Sky Sports News England reporter Rob Dorsett is scheduled for Tuesday morning, offering supporters a chance to submit their questions. In summary, while England’s defensive framework remains robust, Tuchel’s analysis underscores the importance of disciplined ball handling.
The team must learn to protect the ball more effectively, avoid unnecessary turnovers in dangerous areas, and maintain the confidence that has defined their recent successes. By addressing these possession‑related shortcomings, England can aim to convert their defensive resilience into consistent victories against top‑class opposition.