Thomas Tuchel signals major shift from Southgate era as new England manager promises ‘physical and attacking’ football

THOMAS TUCHEL vowed he will toughen up England to win the World Cup.

The nation’s first German coach swept into Wembley yesterday claiming English physicality is crucial to ending the painful 60-year wait to be world champions again.

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Former Chelsea boss Tuchel made his Blues side horrible to play against as they won the Champions League, Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup within 18 months.

Tuchel, 51, said: “We should play an attacking style of football and try to emphasise a physical side of the game — because this is what English football is all about.

“This is what excites our supporters and what suits the players, who are from the best league in the world.

“We have a group of young, hungry players and are desperate to win a title, so we have all the ingredients.

“We should try to implement this into our style of play.

“It’s important to have clear messages and not overcomplicate. And to find a clear structure where we can demand certain things from the players and where we can also show their full potential.

“This is then my job to find this structure and then demand it from the players.”

Tuchel, out of work since leaving Bayern Munich in the summer, has signed a £7.5million, 18-month contract.

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And the FA hope the German, who does not start work until January 1, can lead the Three Lions to 2026 World Cup glory in the USA.

Tuchel, for his part, is ready to stake his reputation on ending 60 years of hurt.

He said: “We can spell it out very clearly why we are here and what we want to achieve. We are not shy of it.

“It’s not a gamble so let’s judge it when we have done it. If we decide it was a failure, we will not continue.

“If we decide it was not a failure then we will continue. Let’s see.

“I am already excited. It suits my passion to push this group of players and to be part of this federation, which has such a strong record in recent tournaments and to push it over the line and put a second star on the shirt.”

Tuchel’s energetic style took Chelsea to the summit of club football, with players like defensive hardman Antonio Rudiger at the heart of his team.

He now wants to embrace the physicality of the Premier League and turn it on our rivals.

Under Gareth Southgate, England reached the semi-finals at least in three of the last four major tournaments but are still waiting to add to the 1966 World Cup triumph.

And Tuchel, going into his first job as an international coach, added: “We cannot only focus on the results, we cannot hide behind a certain style of play which does not give us results. It has to go hand in hand.

“They have to be balanced and our style of play has to bring results.”

Tuchel spent last season at Bayern Munich alongside Harry Kane.

The pair enjoy a close relationship. But Tuchel did not talk to England’s 68-goal record scorer before taking the plunge with the Three Lions.

He said: “I did not speak to Harry. I didn’t speak to Gareth.

“Normally, I never do this. I get my own feeling, I get my own point of view and let it sink in and reflect on it.

“You know how highly I think of Harry and how much I fought to bring him to Bayern Munich.

“He is already on his way to being a legend in English football.”