Thomas Tuchel dismisses claims of a ‘curse’ on the England men’s team, emphasizing the inspiration drawn from the Lionesses’ and Under-21s’ recent successes. He highlights their achievements as proof that winning is achievable and sets an example for the 2026 World Cup campaign, while also announcing John Stones’ withdrawal from the squad due to injury.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has emphatically rejected the notion of a 'curse' hindering the men's national team's chances at the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel points to the recent triumphs of England's women's team, the Lionesses, and the Under-21s as evidence that success is attainable and that the past does not dictate the future.
The weight of history looms large over the Three Lions, who haven't secured a major tournament victory since their historic 1966 World Cup win. Furthermore, the team suffered agonizing defeats in consecutive European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024 under Tuchel's predecessor, Gareth Southgate. These near misses have fueled talk of a jinx that Tuchel is keen to dispel.
“There is no curse. It doesn’t exist, and we don’t believe in it,” declared Tuchel during a press conference, addressing the media ahead of England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers. “What the Lionesses and the U21s have achieved is not just inspiring; it’s proof that winning is in our DNA. It’s a good omen.”
The Lionesses, led by manager Sarina Wiegman, secured their second consecutive European Championship title in July, defeating Spain in a nail-biting penalty shootout. A month prior, the Under-21s also celebrated back-to-back Euros victories, showcasing the depth of talent within the English national setup. These victories, according to Tuchel, provide a blueprint for success and a boost in confidence for the senior men's team.
England is currently in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying campaign, sitting atop Group K with a perfect record of three wins from three matches under Tuchel's leadership, without conceding a single goal. The team is preparing for their next qualifier against Andorra on Saturday, followed by a trip to Serbia on Tuesday, as they strive to secure their place at the prestigious tournament next year.
Addressing the question of whether the success of the other England teams adds extra pressure, Tuchel argued that it has the opposite effect. “It does the opposite. Their success inspires. You only have to look at the recent results of both teams to know this. I was so happy for Sarina and Lee because they made it, and they made an extraordinary effort and an extraordinary success with back-to-back victories. It is possible [to win a trophy with England], there is no curse on English teams. So, it is a good omen, and we will do our very best to follow the example,” Tuchel stated.
Adding to his point about success at other levels of the England setup, Tuchel said, “We have seen success at youth levels, and we have seen success at women's level, and now we want to add to that. It is possible, and that's where our focus is.”
England boasts a dominant record against Andorra, having won all seven of their previous encounters without conceding a goal. Their historical dominance extends to World Cup qualifiers, where they are currently on a 34-match unbeaten run (W26 D8), since a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine in October 2009.
However, Tuchel has been dealt a blow ahead of the match at Villa Park, with defender John Stones withdrawing from the squad due to a muscle injury. "Unfortunately, John Stones just left [the camp]," Tuchel confirmed. "He came with minor muscle issues to the camp and didn't progress as we thought and hoped he would, so he left the camp [on Friday] morning because we will not take the risk with him, not against Andorra and, unfortunately, not against Serbia. Everyone else is available. We had 21 players [on Thursday] in training and 21 players [on Friday] in training, and we just need to make sure everyone is available for Saturday."
“He came with minor issues – muscle issues – to camp and didn’t progress as we thought and hoped he would, so he left camp this morning.”
Thomas Tuchel confirms that John Stones has withdrawn from our #ThreeLions squad:
— England (@England) September 5, 2025