‘I have to prove myself’ – Thomas Tuchel responds to England critics after World Cup qualifying draw

Thomas Tuchel has vowed to prove his critics wrong after England received a favourable draw for the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions were drawn in Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra, offering Tuchel’s side a relatively straightforward path to the showpiece in North America.

The newly appointed England head coach attended the event at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich and insisted he couldn’t wait to get started in his first role since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season.

Tuchel’s appointment as Gareth Southgate’s successor received mixed reactions. He is under no illusion about the task at hand but remains eager to prove he is the right man for the job.

Speaking after the draw in Zurich, Tuchel said (via the Mirror): “Of course, it will always be mixed – no hard feelings for that.

“So now I have to prove myself, and to the people who are maybe a bit concerned – to prove to them how much it means to me and that it’s a dream job for me that I will give my everything, and I’m the man for the job.

“The most important thing is that we focus fully on the qualification, take it seriously, give it our respect, and prove a point that we want to go to the USA.”

Tuchel became the first German manager to take charge of England when he signed an 18-month contract and was tasked with winning the World Cup.

Southgate’s tenure was packed with near-misses and disappointment.

However, Tuchel’s appointment signals a new era for the Three Lions, leaving many people fantasising about the prospect of clinching football’s holy grail for the first time since 1966.

Tuchel has a plethora of talents at his disposal, including Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, who are currently considered amongst the best players in world football.

His tenure officially begins on January 1, giving him plenty of time to prepare for England’s qualifying campaign, which starts in March.