Tuchel's England Show Promise But Two Questions Remain

The buzz around England under Thomas Tuchel feels different. Wembley has seen plenty of possession-heavy performances over the years, but the recent displays have carried more speed, more vertical passing and far more movement between the lines. England's 3-1 win over Senegal did not end every debate, though. It sharpened two of them: can the defence cope against elite opposition, and can Tuchel settle on the right attacking balance before the World Cup? 

The discussion accelerated after England followed a narrow World Cup qualifier win over Andorra with a more convincing performance against Senegal at Wembley on 10 June. Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze scored in the 3-1 victory, while Senegal had briefly levelled through Ismaïla Sarr. Tuchel's side created more chances and attacked with greater variety than in the Andorra game, yet the equaliser conceded before half-time exposed familiar concerns about England's defensive structure. Fans left talking about the football. They also left asking whether the back line is ready for the biggest tests.

The strongest argument in Tuchel's favour is the attacking evidence. England registered 16 shots against Senegal and generated several quick combinations through Saka, Jude Bellingham and Eze. The front line rotated positions more frequently than it often did under Gareth Southgate, and the tempo increased noticeably after half-time. That has led many supporters to believe England have finally found a more adventurous identity. But could the same approach leave space behind the midfield against stronger opponents? That question remains open. 

Tuchel himself has not pretended the job is finished. After the Senegal match, he praised England's attacking intent but acknowledged that transitions and defensive concentration still need work. The equaliser came when England failed to deal with a cross from the left, and Senegal created further moments on the counter-attack before the hosts regained control. That balance between aggression and security is now the central coaching challenge.

Then there is the selection issue. Kane remains the undisputed centre-forward, but the supporting cast is still evolving. Saka's return added width and direct running, while Eze's goal strengthened his case for a larger role. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon all offer different qualities, and Tuchel has only a handful of camps before the World Cup to decide which combination gives England the best mix of creativity, pressing and defensive cover. One good friendly does not settle that argument. 

The encouraging sign is that England are creating more chances and playing with greater freedom than they did during parts of the last European Championship cycle. The cautionary sign is that the toughest opponents at major tournaments punish defensive lapses far more ruthlessly than Senegal did. Historically, England's strongest tournament runs have been built on defensive control as much as attacking talent, from the 2018 World Cup semi-final team to the side that reached the Euro 2020 final. Tuchel appears to be pushing the pendulum towards attack. The next step is proving that the defence can hold up when the stakes rise. 

England's next confirmed fixtures are the September World Cup qualifiers, where the opposition will sit deeper and force Tuchel's side to break them down consistently. That may sound less glamorous than facing Senegal, but it could reveal more about whether this new attacking identity is sustainable over a long tournament campaign. For now, England fans have something they have wanted for years: a team that looks eager to attack. The next few months will show whether Tuchel can solve the two remaining problems before the World Cup pressure arrives.