Thomas Tuchel has argued that England’s own ball‑play was the biggest liability in their 3‑2 loss to Spain. The Three Lions, who entered the match as the reigning World and European champions, made a series of costly errors that allowed Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal to find the net.
After an immaculate defensive record throughout the World Cup qualifying phase, England have now conceded nine goals across their last three fixtures – against Argentina, France and Spain – highlighting a sudden vulnerability when facing top‑class opposition. Despite the obvious defensive frailties exposed by elite opponents, Tuchel is quick to dismiss the idea that the problem lies in the team’s structural organisation. He insists that the root cause is the way England handled possession, particularly during the deeper phases of their build‑up.
"We were the biggest danger to ourselves when we had the ball," he said ahead of the upcoming Nations League clash with the Czech Republic. "In the box we created more chances for the opposition because of individual mistakes, not because of a lack of defensive shape." Tuchel stressed that, from a tactical standpoint, England’s block and active defending remain at a high level. "In terms of organised defending, we were a step ahead of many other sides," he added, noting that the defensive unit performed well within the framework of the system.
However, he warned that the individual errors in possession – especially in the deep‑lying build‑up – are unacceptable at this stage of competition. "We cannot repeat those mistakes at this level," he warned, emphasizing the need for sharper decision‑making when the ball is in the defensive third. The coach’s comments came after a wave of criticism over his tactical choices in the World Cup semi‑final against Argentina, where he opted to sit back and protect a one‑goal lead rather than press for a second. Following that match, Tuchel suggested that England’s footballing DNA does not naturally revolve around ball possession the way Spanish or South American sides do.
He argued that the English players are perhaps more comfortable with a direct, high‑intensity approach, whereas the Spanish style favours controlling the game through sustained possession. Nevertheless, Tuchel believes that England displayed a clear identity during the Spain game, even if it was marred by self‑inflicted errors. "There was a lot of discussion before the match about our style," he said.
"We showed our courage and our identity throughout the 90 minutes. We gave Spain many problems, but we also created problems for ourselves with individual lapses." He highlighted the positive moments, noting that England pushed forward even when they were a goal ahead, maintaining an attacking mindset that kept the pressure on Luis de la Fuente’s side. "In the decisive moments we played our best football, staying dominant and threatening," Tuchel recalled.
He also acknowledged that the team’s momentum faltered towards the end, partly due to their own mistakes, but he remained optimistic about the positives to take forward. Looking ahead, England face a series of Nations League fixtures: an away match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, at 7.45 pm, followed by an away game versus Croatia on October 3 at 5 pm, and a home encounter with the Czechs again on October 6 at 7.45 pm. Tuchel’s focus will be on tightening the team’s possession phases, reducing the frequency of individual errors, and reinforcing the belief that England can defend as a unit while also being comfortable on the ball. The manager also hinted at a forthcoming Q&A session with Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, inviting fans to submit their questions about the Three Lions’ performance and future plans.
This interactive element aims to engage supporters and provide transparency about the coaching staff’s perspective. In summary, Tuchel’s assessment of the Spain defeat underscores a dual narrative: England’s defensive structure remains robust, but the squad’s own ball‑play has become a liability. By addressing the mental and technical aspects of possession, especially in the deeper zones, and by learning from the high‑profile errors that led to goals, England can aim to restore the defensive solidity that characterised their qualifying campaign while evolving a more nuanced, possession‑based identity that can compete with the world’s best teams.