England manager Thomas Tuchel is considering a tactical shift towards more direct play, including long throws and high balls, as England prepares for a World Cup qualifier against Serbia. This comes after a 2-0 win against Andorra where both goals came from crosses. Tuchel acknowledges the limited training time with international players and the need to adapt. He anticipates a tough match against Serbia, emphasizing the need to be ready for any situation.
Thomas Tuchel, the innovative head coach of the England national team, is contemplating a strategic shift that could redefine the team's approach to the upcoming World Cup. With qualification matches underway, Tuchel is exploring the integration of more direct tactics, including the utilization of long throws and high balls, into England's traditionally possession-based game. This potential shift comes as England prepares to face Serbia in Belgrade, a match anticipated to be a stern test of their World Cup aspirations.
Tuchel's openness to a tactical evolution reflects a pragmatic assessment of international football's unique challenges. Unlike club management, where extensive training time allows for the meticulous implementation of intricate passing patterns, international football demands adaptability and efficiency. Tuchel recognizes the need to maximize the limited time he has with the players, and is trying to instill short-passing patterns. This could involve embracing elements of the game that may have been previously overlooked.
England's recent 2-0 victory over Andorra offered a glimpse into the potential benefits of a more direct approach. Both goals in the match stemmed from lofted crosses, showcasing the effectiveness of utilizing aerial balls into the box. The first goal resulted from a cross delivered by Noni Madueke, which led to an own goal by Christian Garcia. The second goal saw Reece James deliver a precise cross from a wider position, finding Declan Rice who headed home with conviction.
Speaking after the game, Tuchel emphasized the importance of variety in England's attacking arsenal. He stated, "The last one was more classic than the first one. The last one was from the sideline, with the right foot to the second post and our No 10 arrived – Declan. I tell you the long throw-in is back, as well."
Tuchel also said "Once we arrive at the World Cup, all these things matter so we will also talk about long throw-ins, we will talk about long kicks from the goalkeeper and not only playing short. We cannot put everything into four days of training but these things will matter. Let’s see. I need to reflect with my assistant coaches. All these patterns are back and crosses are back, as well."
The potential inclusion of long throws and high balls into England's tactical blueprint signals a willingness to adapt to the physical and tactical challenges posed by international opponents. A more direct approach could provide England with an alternative route to goal, particularly against teams employing deep defensive blocks.
Looking ahead to the match against Serbia, Tuchel anticipates a hostile environment at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. He emphasized the need for his players to be prepared for all eventualities, including a potentially challenging pitch and the possibility of red cards. "We will have to adapt to the adversity and overcome adversity and let’s see what the pitch is like … how the game plays out," Tuchel said. "You never know. You can have red cards, yellow cards, whatever. We need to be ready for everything. We will face the same formation as against Andorra – the defensive block of 5-4-1 with individual quality up front with tall physical strikers."
Addressing concerns about the playing surface, Tuchel offered a knowing smile, stating, "Not yet. We expect … we are ready for everything. We feel that we are ready to step up to the atmosphere, the physicality, and it will be an emotional, very important game in the group."
Confidence in his squad remains unwavering, as Tuchel stated, "The main thing is that I trust the players because I felt them very strong this week. We’ve had an excellent camp. I felt the energy right, the attitude right, and that’s why I have full trust that we will have a good game in Serbia. We will prove ourselves to be ready to win there."
However, Tuchel faces a potential selection dilemma in central defence, with Marc Guéhi reporting groin discomfort during the match against Andorra. Guéhi managed to continue until the 76th minute, when he was replaced by Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa. Tuchel revealed that he had considered introducing another Villa player, Ollie Watkins, but the Guéhi situation forced a change of plans. "I wanted to put Ollie on as it’s Villa Park and for sure his family was there. I was a bit unhappy with that," Tuchel said. "We lost already John Stones [who withdrew from the squad with an injury] and I was not ready to take the risk. Ezri is also a Villa player so we had that. It turned out that Harry stayed on; it’s never a problem. He will be ready for Tuesday."