Tuchel: England's Euro 2024 Struggles Were Due to Fear of Failure

 

Thomas Tuchel believes England’s underwhelming performances at Euro 2024 stemmed from a fear of failure rather than a strong focus on winning.

Despite reaching the final in Berlin, Gareth Southgate’s squad faced criticism for their lackluster displays and minimal attacking threat, despite being tournament favorites.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Tuchel elaborated on his previous comments to ITV, where he suggested that pressure negatively impacted England’s performances.

"It was just my feeling watching the tournament, long before I knew I might take charge," Tuchel said. "I felt the team was more afraid of losing than eager to win. It should be the other way around."

Tuchel emphasized the importance of playing with hunger,
excitement, and confidence rather than fear.

"We want to foster a spirit where players feel safe to express themselves, take risks, and enjoy the game. Football always carries the risk of failure, but our focus must be on attacking, recovering the ball higher up the pitch, and creating more chances in the opponent’s box," he added.

"The goal is to play with joy and the determination to win—not the fear of losing."