Thomas Tuchel has insisted England will require their own “Pom squad” for next year’s World Cup. The term has emerged in rugby union where managers deploy a series of late attacking changes designed to secure victory. Tuchel maintains it will be unfeasible for any side to persist with an unchanged starting eleven throughout next summer’s competition, which may take place in sweltering 40-degree conditions across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The England manager is evidently working towards this strategy after offering a glimpse of things to come when introducing Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze during the final stages against Serbia at Wembley on Thursday. Tuchel is convinced that deploying quick, energetic attackers to clinch matches will prove even more crucial next year, with the decisive factor potentially lying more with the finishers rather than the starters.
Whilst star players may resist being named amongst the substitutes, Tuchel argues this approach could prove particularly vital for England, given how many have endured lengthy, demanding campaigns in the Premier League.
Tuchel said: “We need a good bench, we play in 40 degrees and we will play after a long, long season, we are maybe the nation that suffers the most from international football, from long seasons, from two cups, from cup finals, from semi-finals.
“We 100 per cent we need to be ready to do substitutions until hopefully the late stages of the World Cup.
“Once we go to a tournament, I think clarity in the role is very important. The better player can also think about it and be honest: ‘Can I accept this, is it good for me, can I make the most of this for the team?'”
Tuchel has previously indicated that Harry Kane, Bellingham and Foden may not all feature in his starting XI given his preferred England formation and tactical approach.
This suggests at least one major name will be left out, whilst he must also consider how to accommodate Eze, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer within his squad. He recently faced the challenging decision of informing Bournemouth’s Alex Scott that he would not even be included in the matchday squad against Serbia.
Tuchel acknowledges the difficulty, recognising that dropping from being a club’s focal point to England’s substitutes’ bench could bruise some egos. Yet he believes this is essential for tournament success.
Tuchel explained: “They come with England because they are regularly picked, they come because they are captains and key players in their club team.
“Then I tell my squad and ten of them have to sit on the bench but you see already I normally pick only 21 of 23 because I just hate this talk to give yesterday Alex Scott the message ‘you are not in the squad.'”.
“I don’t like it, I have stomach pain and even to see players on the bench, they will never like it but I strongly believe they will accept it. We need to have the roles clear.
“Once we go to a tournament – what is your role? I think in a ten-day camp it is easy. Sometimes you are picked, sometimes you are not picked or you are the competition for someone who at the moment maybe has his nose ahead and he starts regularly. I think that is normal.”
FIFA are yet to confirm squad sizes, though 26 players appear likely given the expanded 48-team tournament format. Tuchel has indicated he would welcome clarification on substitution rules and available slots.
Tuchel added: “Good question I think we will not get another number so quickly out of FIFA. We have to adapt with five, and think outside the box and maybe worship even the extra slot we have at half-time.
“We maybe can have one or two changes at half-time to get another slot for the changes in the second half.”
