Former England manager Fabio Capello believes that Thomas Tuchel needs to tackle the Three Lions’ habit of playing ‘with fear’ ahead of the World Cup this summer.
Capello, 79, spent five years in the England hot seat between 2007 and 2012, and knows exactly what it’s like to lead the country into world football’s most prestigious tournament.
The Italian was the Three Lions boss for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, guiding them to the round of 16, in which they were knocked out by Germany after Frank Lampard’s infamous ‘ghost goal’.
England have gone on to make the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments respectively, both under the watchful eye of Gareth Southgate, Tuchel’s predecessor.
But despite improvements in years gone by, Capello thinks that Tuchel still has a major problem to solve ahead of travelling to the USA, Canada, and Mexico in June.
Fabio Capello was England manager between 2007 and 2012 and took charge at one World Cup
The Italian believes that Thomas Tuchel needs to change England’s habit of playing with ‘fear’
Capello told BBC Sport: ‘This is the problem for England. They are tired and they fear. The manager, he has to cancel these two things.’
England did make a final in their last major tournament, Euro 2024, while Southgate was in charge, losing 2-1 to Spain in the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The Three Lions also made the final in Euro 2020, but succumbed to Italy at Wembley on penalties.
Capello remembers that night in the capital and points to anxiety as the reason they didn’t bring it home at last.
‘I remember the game against Italy,’ he continued. ‘They are winning after 10-15 minutes and after they don’t play. They play with fear.’
That ‘fear’ has been a theme of England’s history since their only major tournament victory back in 1966, and after recent poor results in friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, there are worries that the shirt has become heavy for the players once more.
This was epitomised by Marc Guehi following the Three Lions’ shock defeat to the Japanese at Wembley when he admitted that ‘it’s not easy putting the shirt on’.
Guehi told ITV: ‘It’s not easy putting the shirt on. You play against teams that are well-drilled and disciplined.
‘They qualified for the World Cup as well, and they want to prove a point when they come here. I will reiterate, it is important that we stick together, learn from this moment, and move forward.’
The World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico begins on 11 June, with England’s first game against Croatia taking place a week later.
