Thomas Tuchel has openly admitted that England’s own ball‑play was the biggest threat to themselves during their 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 the Spanish side to exploit gaps and score through Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal. England entered the game on the back of a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign in which they had not conceded a single goal. However, the defensive record has begun to crumble, with nine goals allowed across the last three internationals against Argentina, France and now Spain.
While the tally suggests a defensive frailty, Tuchel insists the problem does not lie in the team’s shape or organization but rather in the way the players handle the ball when in possession. "It’s not a concern yet," Tuchel told reporters ahead of England’s next Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
He praised the collective defensive effort, saying that in terms of organized, block and active defending the side performed at a higher level than in many previous encounters. He added that, when examined in isolation, the structure and unit play were satisfactory and even a step forward. The German manager, however, was quick to point out that the real issue emerged during the build‑up phase, especially in deep positions. "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 explained. He went on to describe a paradoxical situation: when England possessed the ball, they became the biggest danger to themselves around the penalty area because of a spate of isolated errors. "Purely in defending, I have no concerns and I trust that we can do it," he affirmed. Tuchel’s comments came after a wave of criticism over his tactical choices in the World Cup semi‑final against Argentina, where he opted for a defensive stance to protect a one‑goal lead rather than pressing for a second.
In the aftermath, he suggested that England’s footballing DNA does not naturally prioritize ball possession the way Spanish or South American teams do. "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.
Despite the scrutiny, Tuchel believes his side displayed the intended style and character in the Wembley defeat to Luis de la Fuente’s Spain. He noted that there had been extensive debate before the match about England’s identity, but he felt the players demonstrated both courage and a clear sense of self throughout the ninety 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 admitted. Reflecting on the overall performance, Tuchel highlighted the positives. England pushed the world and European champions to the brink, maintained attacking intent even while leading, and at several moments were the more dominant side.
"We kept attacking when we were a goal ahead. We were even more dominant and more of a threat," he said.
He also accepted responsibility for a loss of momentum late in the game, attributing it to the same individual errors that had plagued their build‑up. Looking ahead, Tuchel’s focus will be on correcting those possession‑related lapses. The next fixtures on the Nations League calendar include an away match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, at 7.45 pm, a clash with Croatia on October 3 at 5 pm, and a home game against the Czechs again on October 6 at 7.45 pm.
The manager hopes that by tightening the team’s decision‑making in tight spaces and reducing careless turnovers, England can restore the defensive solidity that characterized their qualifying run. Fans are encouraged to follow the upcoming Czech Republic versus England match via Sky Sports’ live match blog and app, and to submit questions for a Q&A session with Sky Sports News England reporter Rob Dorsett on Tuesday morning. The platform will allow supporters to engage directly with the coaching staff and gain further insight into the tactical adjustments planned for the future. In summary, while England’s defensive framework remains sound, Tuchel identifies possession‑based mistakes as the primary source of recent setbacks.
By addressing these issues, improving individual concentration, and reinforcing the team’s identity on the ball, the Three Lions aim to convert their strong defensive foundation into consistent, winning performances on the international stage.