Tuchel relives ‘rollercoaster’ World Cup

England men’s head coach Thomas Tuchel looked back on his ‘childhood dream’ of going to a World Cup in a new England Original film, 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey'.

Tuchel sat down with former Three Lions international Daniel Sturridge for his first interview since the tournament, with the film available to watch now on the official England app.

From qualifying for the tournament to touching down in the USA, kicking off the tournament in Dallas and securing the bronze medal with that thrilling victory over France, the England boss left no stone unturned in the documentary.

“It was important to be together and stay together as a whole staff, a whole group of people,” explained Tuchel. “We started this journey together, we ended it together.

“The moment to receive a medal is very different than in club football. It just matters that you bring something home. I’m the first one to admit that we didn’t achieve it – we wanted to have a second star – but still, it was a top end to a brilliant campaign.”

Talking through the tournament game-by-game, Tuchel watched back England’s famous knockout victory over co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca which booked the Three Lions’ place in the quarter-finals.

“This was maybe my moment of the World Cup – the hug with my coaches right after the whistle,” he recalled. “This game had so much that you just could wish for.

“They just didn’t give in. They refused to give in, no matter what, with a lot of adversity – altitude, home country, a stadium where no one can win a World Cup match, a man down, a VAR decision against us with a penalty.”

He also spoke of the support from the England fans who both travelled to the USA and cheered on the Three Lions back home.

“They lived up to the high expectations,” explained Tuchel. “Everyone told me, ‘Wait until the tournament starts. We will have the best fans. We will be right on top. It will be amazing, the amount of people.’ It was just like that.

“From the first moment, I think they just felt this team. They could sense that this team is together and this team means it. That’s what made the connection so strong. That was not artificial – that was very, very special.”

And Tuchel – who is ‘very optimistic’ for the future – looked ahead to what’s coming up for his team, who kick off their UEFA Nations League 2026-27 campaign later this month.

“These players will come back hungry, starting with a match against the reigning world champions,” he said. “We just beat France, we have the chance to beat Spain straight away at home. Perfect start. Perfect rehearsal for us for the EUROs.

“That is something to build on. We have all the right to hold our heads high and go with courage and positivity into the next challenges.”

Watch ‘Reflections’ exclusively on the official England app, out now.