The perfect ticket

On a cold evening in Riga, white lights cast a shadow over Thomas Tuchel ’s stern face as the referee blew the final whistle. The 5-0 win over Latvia was more than just a flurry of goals; it was a message, a footballing manifesto.

England , after years of living between illusions and the fear of failure, became the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Together with Spain, they have yet to concede a goal throughout the qualifying campaign.

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England soon won a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Photo: EFE

On the touchline, Thomas Tuchel smiled moderately, like after each goal his students scored (Anthony Gordon 26', Harry Kane 44', 45'+4, Tonisevs 58'/own goal, Eberechi Eze 86') .

The German strategist shook hands with his assistants, his eyes still analyzing something. After 6 qualifying matches, 6 wins, no goals conceded – the numbers speak for a building being built brick by brick.

It's not magic, but the result of discipline, science and an obsession with control – things that have defined Tuchel from Dortmund to PSG to Chelsea.

Tuchel ’s England are no longer a collection of Premier League stars stuck in a conservative box. They run more, press higher, and play such a proactive style that opponents rarely cross the halfway line.

In Tuchel's hands, Declan Rice became the perfect regulator, or Elliot Anderson became a phenomenon in the middle of the field thanks to his intelligent ball control style (he completed 121 passes, the most in history against an English player in an away match since August 2008).

There is no room for Jude Bellingham – who is yet to feel his best after shoulder surgery.

Of course, Harry Kane is still the leader with important goals, but is freed from having to carry the team.

Tuchel's mark

The difference is not in the formation – Tuchel has no fixed formation. Sometimes it’s 4-2-3-1, sometimes it’s 3-4-2-1 after a few minutes. The key is the philosophy: every play has a purpose, every player has a place in the larger structure.

“ Stars do not necessarily make a winning team , ” Tuchel once said, explaining why he dropped Bellingham. That statement is now very true .

This rise comes in the context of English football's thirst for self-affirmation. After the EURO 2024 final , the FA took a risk by choosing Tuchel - a German, cold, perfectionist - instead of continuing the safe path with Southgate or another Englishman .

Now, that choice has paid off with modern, energetic football that relies less on individual inspiration , turning the Three Lions into World Cup contenders.

Of course, perfection remains an illusion. Tuchel admits England sometimes get stuck against a deep block – something Latvia and Andorra have tried to do.

But unlike in the past, they did not lose their rhythm, did not rush to find a goal. They were patient, as if they knew victory was only a matter of time.

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Harry Kane exploded with a double. Photo: Squawka Live

It is there that we see the mark of a coach who has led teams obsessed with detail and control.

In the press conference room in Riga, Tuchel was asked if he was satisfied. He replied in a low voice: “We have only just started. Tickets to the USA, Mexico, Canada are a bonus, but the World Cup will be the real test . ”

Behind him, the white wall with the “England 2026 Qualified” logo reflects the bright lights, like a reminder that this success is just the starting point.

Tuchel’s side are changing – quietly, without fanfare, but with cold efficiency. Six wins from six qualifying games and no goals conceded – a perfect summary of the opening chapter of a journey that could rewrite the history of English football.

As the gentle chant of “It’s coming home” rang out in the dressing room, Tuchel just smiled. Perhaps, for the first time in many years, the English sang that line not with illusion, but with belief.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-anh-doat-ve-world-cup-2026-bay-su-tu-cua-thomas-tuchel-2452822.html