Zürcher Nachrichten - Tuchel hopes to bring Premier League power to England reign

The German's appointment as the third foreign manager to take charge of England has raised the pressure on Tuchel to deliver a first major trophy since 1966 at next year's World Cup.

After consecutive European Championship final defeats under Gareth Southgate, plus semi-final and quarter-final exits at the past two World Cups, the English Football Association has invested heavily in Tuchel's track record as a serial winner.

The 51-year-old guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and also won league titles at Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Tuchel, though, said he is hoping to deploy the pace and power of the Premier League, rather than a continental influence, as he looks to shape his England team.

"The Premier League is a very physically demanding league, is a very direct league and I think we should be brave enough to play like an England squad and should not try to copy other nations' styles too much," Tuchel said after naming his first squad on Friday for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

"I think it should reflect the values of the country and of the strongest league in the world, which is the Premier League.

"I think we need to increase the rhythm and intensity of our game compared to our last matches. This is where the focus is and then hopefully it's an exciting watch and we have the effect that we wish for."

Tuchel's contract only lasts until the end of the 2026 World Cup and he is aware of the need to make an immediate impact.

Qualification should be a formality in a group also containing Serbia and Andorra.

But Tuchel is wary that his time with the players is limited in his first foray into international management.

"We are now consecutive in semi-finals and finals and the feeling is that it's just a little step to bring it over the line," he added.

"I am very convinced that if we want to be prepared to be in the next final and to make the last step we need to do it now in the first camp, as boring as it may sound for you.

"If you go on a journey, it starts with the first step. This journey starts clearly with the first camp.

"We only have six camps, we only have 60 days (together ahead of the World Cup), we need to take care of every single day and make sure that we are on point.

"If we do this, hopefully the last step takes care of itself."

Recalls for Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson were the headline news from Tuchel's first squad.

Arsenal defender Ben White has ended a self-imposed international exile that has lasted since the 2022 World Cup, but is not included due to a lack of match fitness.

Tuchel confirmed that Harry Kane, who he managed at Bayern, will be retained as England captain.

O.Hofer--NZN