Thomas Tuchel: England 2.0 – what has Three Lions boss changed?

If asked to summarise Tuchel’s England in one idea, runs off the ball would be a good answer. Perhaps this is why Trent Alexander-Arnold has found it difficult to find a place in Tuchel’s squad.

“Trent is a unique player,” Tuchel said. “He is not a runner.

“He is not someone who runs through the last line, who does overlaps [and] underlaps. [Saka and Trent] need to find a way to not be too static. On the right side, [we need] movement through the last line – to play with dynamic movement.”

Against Croatia, Saka similarly found himself in central areas when Quansah held the width but played as a winger when Quansah moved centrally.

In both cases, Quansah was sure to make repeated runs beyond his winger.

Irrespective of his running, Alexander-Arnold’s display on the ball across both games caught the eye. And when it comes to off-ball movement, he has shown promising signs.

For other coaches, that alone may have guaranteed him a starting spot in future but what is evident is that for Tuchel, there are underlying principles that take precedent – ideas we have seen him look to implement since his appointment.

In the past, England were accused of being a team of world-class individuals without a system.

Tuchel, more than ever, is looking to land on a world-class system.

It is up to the players to convince him of their role in it, even as it evolves.