Barring some extremely sudden developments, England ought to be on the record of travellers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Whereas ready for the qualifying draw, the Three Lions have made an important determination following one other stomach-wrenching UEFA European Championship outcome.

After a 2-1 defeat to Spain within the grand remaining, long-serving boss Gareth Southgate parted methods together with his residence nation, having did not win any main silverware throughout his eight-year reign.

Southgate guided England to back-to-back Euro finals, solely to be overwhelmed by Italy and La Furia Roja.

Nonetheless, ends in the World Cup finals had been significantly lacking.

England needed to accept a fourth-place end within the 2018 version in Russia earlier than France received the higher of them within the 2022 quarter-finals in Qatar.

With Canada, Mexico and the US making ready to host the most recent instalment of probably the most prestigious worldwide event in 2026, the Three Lions’ eyes stay firmly set on the prize.

Not since lifting the title in 1966 when the competitors passed off in England had one in every of Europe’s greatest footballing nations tasted success on the grandest stage.

A fourth-place end underneath Southgate stays England’s joint-best run on the World Cups since overcoming West Germany after additional time practically a half-century in the past.

In reality, it will likely be precisely 50 years for the reason that Three Lions’ memorable triumph at Wembley when the North American-held version rolls round.

Thomas Tuchel will lead England’s title cost from the dugout after the Soccer Affiliation appointed him as the brand new everlasting supervisor earlier in October.

Troublesome Years

The previous Chelsea boss will change caretaker coach Lee Carsley in January 2025, which means he’ll be on the helm from the start of the World Cup qualifying cycle.

Eclipsing Southgate’s fourth-place end is a naked minimal the Three Lions trustworthy will count on from the 51-year-old in North America.

Nonetheless, Tuchel’s appointment has triggered combined emotions.

His reign at Stamford Bridge resulted in acrimonious trend when Todd Boehly sacked him the morning after a 1-0 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb.

Based on The Telegraph, Tuchel will get a ‘heat welcome’ again at Chelsea because the England gaffer regardless of his disappointing exit.

Chelsea followers will unlikely overlook the UEFA Champions League title the German supervisor introduced again to the Bridge in 2021.

But it surely wasn’t like his profession soared after departing English shores.

Not solely did he go away West London unceremoniously, however he later presided over Bayern Munich’s first failed try to raise the Bundesliga title in over a decade.

Proper Man for the Job

Regardless of dismal second seasons at each Bayern and Chelsea, Tuchel gained main titles with each golf equipment.

He led the Bavarians to Bundesliga glory in his first yr in cost whereas he gained three worldwide trophies with the Blues beforehand.

In all equity, he had gained at the very least one trophy in his final 4 jobs.

With Borussia Dortmund, he lifted the DFB-Pokal crown.

Including six items of silverware with a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain between 2018 and 2020, Tuchel additional cemented his fame as one in every of Europe’s elite coaches.

He even steered Les Parisiens into the Champions League remaining, just for Bayern to crush his goals within the title-defending fixture.

Tuchel is a polarising determine, relying on which aspect of liking his conservative strategy you stand.

However nobody can deny his outstanding means to win trophies wherever he goes.

Confirmed Winner

Whereas Tuchel’s pragmatic, defense-first techniques might not all the time win over connoisseurs of action-packed soccer, his observe document speaks for itself.

Whether or not it’s guiding Chelsea to an unlikely Champions League triumph or sustaining Bayern’s home supremacy, Tuchel has constantly confirmed that his strategies result in success.

Critics might debate his fashion, however his silverware assortment leaves little room for argument with regards to his effectiveness as a supervisor.

Having Tuchel behind the wheel may very well be the turning level the Three Lions have been ready for.