Thomas Tuchel takes aim at Gareth Southgate’s England – ‘without identity, rhythm, freedom or hunger’ – as he issues cutting analysis of Euro 2024 and lack of ‘excitement’

Thomas Tuchel has delivered a scathing assessment of England‘s Euro 2024 campaign under his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

The Three Lions reached their second consecutive Euros final in Germany before losing to Spain, but delivered a number of underwhelming performances along the way.

In the group stages, Southgate’s men scraped past Serbia before drawing with Denmark and Slovenia, while they then rode their luck in knockout wins over Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Some England fans turned on Southgate during the tournament, and Tuchel has suggested he understands why they were frustrated, claiming the team lacked identity and failed to provide excitement with their displays.

Asked if England had a clear playing style at the Euros, Tuchel told ITV Sport: ‘Not last summer, no.’

Elaborating on what was missing, Tuchel added: ‘The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns. The freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger.

England reached the final of the tournament with Southgate at the helm, but lost to Spain

Harry Kane failed to spark into life, and Tuchel feels England played without ‘identity, clarity and rhythm’

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

England heavily relied on moments of brilliance to get them through to last year’s final after key players including captain Harry Kane and Phil Foden failed to spark into life.

Jude Bellingham scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the last-16 against Slovakia before the team secured an extra time victory.

Ollie Watkins also popped up in the last minute of the semi-final to score the winning goal against the Netherlands.

But England slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Spain in the final after being outplayed in the second half.

Looking ahead to next year’s World Cup, Tuchel wants fans to be excited about watching England play and for opponents to be worried about taking on his side.

Responding to his demands of his team moving forward, Tuchel replied: ‘Excitement’. 

He continued: ‘That people feel that’s the team to beat. That we arrive with a group to beat. That we know already, once we’ve qualified, once we arrive that this is the team to beat.’