Thomas Tuchel is calling for England to play with "hunger to win" rather than "fear to lose" as he prepares for his first match as manager of the Three Lions on Friday.
England begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Albania at Wembley before facing Latvia on Monday, marking the start of Tuchel's tenure after replacing Gareth Southgate.
The 51-year-old German manager has been critical of England's performances at Euro 2024, where they reached the final but were often perceived as playing with a cautious approach.
"I've heard a lot that it's a heavy shirt. It is in fact not. But I know what the players mean," Tuchel said during Thursday's news conference. "Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose."
Tuchel emphasized his desire for a more positive approach: "I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win...and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football."
Under Southgate, England reached back-to-back European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024, as well as the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals in 2022. Despite this consistent success, Southgate faced criticism for what many saw as an overly cautious style of play.
Captain Harry Kane believes England is ready to take the final step toward tournament victory. "We have been extremely close to being two-time European champions," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "We have been as successful as any other team for England for the last 15 years, but ultimately you are going to be judged on whether you win finals or not."
Tuchel brings significant club success to the role, having won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, two Ligue 1 titles with Paris St-Germain, and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. While this is his first venture into international management, the Football Association has tasked him with delivering England's first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
"I think we have so many offensive players we should play on the front foot," Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 live. "I think we have a lot of wingers for example that are strongest when they play from the wide positions. This then feeds into our decision on how we want to play - to put the strength of the players to where they are used to playing and where they can express themselves."
In a previous interview with ITV Sport, Tuchel had been blunt about what he felt England lacked at Euro 2024, citing "the identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger" to win the tournament.
Kane, who played under Tuchel at Bayern Munich last season, expressed confidence in the new manager's approach. "I had the pleasure of working with him last year and I knew what he could bring to the type of squad we have," said Kane. "We've only been together a few days and it hasn't disappointed. Camp after camp, as he settles in and we get to know him more, I think we will improve as we go."
The striker also highlighted Tuchel's straightforward communication style: "He's very straight talking. He knows what he wants and knows what he wants from his team. It doesn't matter who you are or how many games you played, he'll tell you the same as he will tell one of the young players what he wants. That's a good standard to set."
Tuchel plans to implement a style reflective of the Premier League, focusing on fast-paced games and getting balls into the box. He also aims to create a "brotherhood" within the squad, having recalled Jordan Henderson, called up Newcastle defender Dan Burn for the first time, and retained Kyle Walker.
This focus on team chemistry comes after reports of discontent within the squad during Euro 2024. Tuchel believes that building strong bonds will be crucial in England's quest to finally secure World Cup glory next year in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
