England boss Thomas Tuchel says England had “no identity and no hunger” under Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024

Thomas Tuchel has criticised predecessor Gareth Southgate and claims England did not have a clear playing style at Euro 2024 last summer.

The Three Lions reached the final despite a series of underwhelming displays only to be beaten by Spain.

Southgate’s tactics were widely criticised with England winning just one of their three group stage games in Germany before requiring a brilliant, last-gasp overhead kick from Jude Bellingham to stave off a round-of-16 exit to Slovakia.

Penalties were required to see off Switzerland while it took another stoppage time goal, this time from Ollie Watkins, to beat the Netherlands in the semis.

Southgate stood down in the aftermath of the tournament and was replaced full-time by Tuchel, who takes charge of the team for the first time tomorrow night when England open their World Cup qualifying campaign against Albania at Wembley.

“They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it” 👀

Thomas Tuchel reflects on England’s Euro2024 campaign 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | @England | @GabrielClarke05 pic.twitter.com/ozsZzIpzvy

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 20, 2025

Asked in an interview with ITV Sport if he felt England had a clear playing style at the Euros, the German replied: “Not last summer, no.”

In explaining what was missing, he added: “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger…

“They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win it.”

Excitement top of England boss Tuchel’s wishlist

Tuchel, who has managed Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at club level, hopes to bring that excitement back to the national team.

“The view that people feel that (England) are the team to beat,” he said.

“That we know already when we arrive, once we’ve qualified, that this is the team to beat.”

Tuchel has already made quite an impression with a controversial squad announcement that saw the return of midfielder Jordan Henderson and a first call-up for Newcastle veteran Dan Burn.