Thomas Tuchel has openly acknowledged that England’s own handling of the ball turned them into a threat to themselves during 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 Spain’s youngsters Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and seasoned forward Mikel Oyarzabal to find the net.
Up until this encounter, England had gone through the entire World Cup qualifying campaign without conceding a single goal. However, the defensive record has now slipped, with nine goals let in across their last three fixtures against Argentina, France and Spain. While the backline has shown signs of vulnerability against top‑tier opposition, Tuchel insists that the root of the problem does not lie in the team’s defensive shape but rather in the mistakes made while in possession. "It’s not a concern yet," Tuchel told reporters ahead of 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. If you isolate the defensive structure and the units within the side, I was quite happy and I think it was a step ahead." He went on to explain that the real issue emerged during the build‑up phase, especially when the team tried to play out from 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 at this level.
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," Tuchel said. The coach’s comments were made in the context of a broader criticism of his tactical approach, particularly after England’s semi‑final defeat to Argentina at the World Cup, where he opted to sit deep and protect a one‑goal lead rather than press for a second. In that aftermath, Tuchel suggested that England’s footballing DNA does not naturally 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 remarked after the tournament exit. Despite the criticism, Tuchel defended his side’s identity during the Spain match. He argued that England displayed their characteristic style and courage throughout the 90 minutes, creating problems for Luis de la Fuente’s side while also conceding a few due to individual lapses. "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 said. Reflecting on the overall performance, Tuchel highlighted the positives: England pushed forward even while leading, maintained dominance, and threatened the opposition with sustained attacks.
"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," he concluded.
Looking ahead, England’s schedule includes a home fixture against the Czech Republic on 6 October, a trip to Croatia on 3 October, and another clash with the Czechs on 29 September. The coaching staff will likely focus on tightening the transition from defence to attack, reducing careless errors in the final third, and reinforcing the team’s ability to retain possession under pressure. In addition to the tactical adjustments, Tuchel hinted at a broader cultural shift within the squad.
He believes that developing a stronger possession mindset—something traditionally associated with Spanish and South American football—could help England avoid the self‑inflicted wounds that have plagued recent high‑stakes matches. By fostering greater confidence on the ball, improving decision‑making in tight spaces, and encouraging players to anticipate each other’s movements, the Three Lions can transform their possession from a liability into an asset.
The upcoming Nations League fixtures will serve as a testing ground for these ideas. Fans can follow the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app, with the Czech Republic encounter kicking off at 7.45 pm on Tuesday. Sky Sports will also host a Q&A session with reporter Rob Dorsett, inviting supporters to submit their questions about England’s performance and future direction. Overall, Tuchel’s message is clear: the defensive framework is solid, but the team must eradicate the individual errors that arise when they have the ball.
By addressing these issues, England can reclaim the defensive solidity that saw them through the World Cup qualifiers and build a more resilient, possession‑oriented style that aligns with the modern game’s demands.