Social skills vital ahead of World Cup, says Tuchel as he stresses upon the importance of harmony in the squad.
Thomas Tuchel says England players’ social skills as vital as talent at World Cup.
In order for England to have any chance of winning this summer, Thomas Tuchel emphasised that quality alone is insufficient to make his World Cup squad. Instead, the appropriate “social skills” and personality are required.
The head coach has talked a lot about creating a “brotherhood” and stressed the need of making sure the camp has the proper mindset. Tuchel will consider how players connect with one another before naming his 26-man team for the finals. England is one among the favourites, but the shirt has weighed heavily in the past.
The German has studied past competitions and may have heard about England’s managers’ inability to establish the proper dynamic at the World Cups in 2006 and 2010. That was altered when Gareth Southgate overhauled the culture, and Tuchel is eager to carry on his predecessor’s legacy, in part because this World Cup will span more than five weeks and include 48 teams.
“When I speak to players who have been in World Cups, it has always made the difference when the connection was right, when the communication was right, between the players first of all,” Tuchel said.
“When the players had the feeling that the right group is in camp, that they knew their role, why they are in camp, what is expected of them, and they had the feeling that the tournament could even go on for another four weeks and they would be happy to be together, then they were successful.
“When they had the feeling after the round of 16 already: ‘Oh, when can we finally go home?’ and the energy was not right and they didn’t make it. This just tells me that we have to get the selection right. It will be very important that we don’t select just for talent, but also for what we need from a player. What the social skills are of a player, is he a good teammate? Can he support if his role is maybe the supporting role? So, this is where the focus is.”