Thomas Tuchel has pointed out that England’s own handling of the ball turned them into a threat to themselves during the 3-2 loss to Spain. The Three Lions, who entered the match as the reigning World Cup and European champions, made a series of costly errors that allowed Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal to find the net. After a flawless World Cup qualifying run in which they did not concede a single goal, England have now let in nine goals across their last three fixtures – against Argentina, France and Spain – highlighting a sudden defensive fragility. Despite the apparent weaknesses when facing top‑class opposition, Tuchel insists the problem does not lie in the team’s defensive shape.
Rather, he believes the errors stem from the way England manage possession, especially during the deeper phases of their build‑up. "It’s not a concern yet," he said before England’s next 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." Tuchel went on to explain that, when the team examined its performance in isolation – looking at the structure of the side and the function of each unit – he was satisfied and felt the team had taken a step forward. The main issue, however, was the frequency of individual mistakes while in possession, particularly in the deep‑lying build‑up. "We suffered clearly from individual mistakes when we had the ball, especially in the deep build‑up, so that is of course something we cannot repeat. Not at this level," he warned.
He added an almost paradoxical observation: "Strangely enough, when we had the ball, we were the biggest danger to ourselves around the box because we just had too many individual mistakes. Purely in defending, I have no concerns and I trust that we can do it." The manager’s comments came ahead of a live match blog on Sky Sports for the Czech Republic versus England, kicking off at 7.45 pm, and were followed by a promise of a Q&A session with Sky Sports News England reporter Rob Dorsett. Tuchel’s remarks arrive after a wave of criticism over his tactical choices in England’s World Cup semi‑final defeat to Argentina, where he opted to sit back and protect a one‑goal lead rather than press for a second.
In the aftermath, he suggested that England’s footballing DNA does not revolve around ball 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 said after the tournament exit. The critique of England’s identity sparked a broader debate about the national team’s playing style. Tuchel, however, argued that his squad displayed its own identity during the encounter at Wembley.
"I think there was a lot of discussion about this before the Spain game," he noted. "I think we showed our style and we showed our courage.
The players showed an identity and they showed it throughout the 90 minutes." He praised the side for creating problems for Luis de la Fuente’s side and for keeping the pressure on even when they were ahead. "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," Tuchel admitted. He highlighted that England were on the brink of defeating the world and European champions, maintaining an attacking mindset even while protecting a lead.
"We kept attacking when we were a goal ahead. We were even more dominant and more of a threat," he said.
Tuchel also acknowledged a lapse in momentum toward the end of the match, attributing it partly to the team’s own actions. "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," he concluded. Looking ahead, England have a busy schedule.
They face the Czech Republic away on Tuesday, 29 September, at 7.45 pm, then travel to Croatia on 3 October for a 5 pm kickoff, before hosting the Czech Republic again on 6 October at 7.45 pm. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial for Tuchel to address the possession‑related issues he highlighted and to restore the defensive solidity that characterized their qualifying campaign.
In addition to the on‑field challenges, fans are invited to engage with the team through Sky Sports’ interactive platforms, including a chance to win a £1 million prize in the Super 6 competition. While the team works on tightening its play, supporters can stay updated via the Sky Sports website or app, where live match blogs, Q&A sessions, and exclusive content will be available throughout the Nations League run.
Overall, Tuchel’s assessment underscores a nuanced view: England’s defensive framework remains sound, but the squad must eliminate the self‑inflicted errors that arise when they are in possession, especially in the deeper areas of the pitch. By refining their ball‑handling and decision‑making, the Three Lions can aim to translate their defensive resilience into consistent results against Europe’s elite.