<\/p>\n
Without a major mens trophy in a staggering 60 years, England\u2019s six decades of footballing misery has so often come down to one bitter rival: Germany. <\/p>\n
Who could forget Paul Gascoigne\u2019s tears after being bested in semi-final penalties at Italia 1990, or that <\/i>4-1 loss in 2010 after Frank Lampard\u2019s opening goal that criminally wasn\u2019t? <\/p>\n
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t it be ironic, then, if it took a German coach to break the sickening spell this tournament has held over the tortured nation? <\/p>\n With their star player plying his trade at Germany\u2019s biggest club as well, it\u2019d be a very unusual win for the Three Lions if they did triumph at the 2026 World Cup. <\/p>\n As per usual, there\u2019s been a lot of noise and gnashing of teeth over the England squad. Be it players who were picked, or players who weren\u2019t, if there\u2019s one thing England fans have in common \u2014 apart from being vulnerable to sunburn \u2014 it\u2019s arguing about the World Cup squad.<\/p>\n There\u2019s been no shortage of that. Micah Richards said he \u201cdoesn\u2019t agree with it\u201d, while John Terry suggested 11 picks aren\u2019t up to World Cup-winning standard. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I look at it, I\u2019m looking at the team now, there\u2019s probably 14, 15 starters\u2026 there\u2019s only 13, 14 or 15 players that can play if we\u2019re going to win this World Cup,\u201d he said on Piers Morgan Uncensored.<\/p>\n Some of those snubbed haven\u2019t exactly been quiet either. <\/p>\n Morgan Gibbs-White said he believed he should\u2019ve been in the squad, and claimed his snub was because he \u201cgot on the wrong side\u201d of coach Thomas Tuchel.<\/p>\n Most spectacular, however, was Harry Maguire\u2019s mum coming out to say it was \u201cabsolutely disgusting\u201d her son wasn\u2019t pick. <\/p>\n Outrage bordering on comical is simply all part of the fun for England heading into a World Cup. <\/p>\n READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n \u2018Can\u2019t baby them\u2019: Aussies given WC warning; great\u2019s plea for overnight sensation<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Hero Roos captain was just axed at World Cup… after an expletive-riddled chat with ex-NRL star<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n How Socceroos can WIN World Cup group this Saturday… with some help from our Turkish pals<\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n \u2018RESTS UPON HIS SHOULDERS\u2019 <\/b><\/p>\n What is clear however, is that Tuchel might be the first England coach since Sir Bobby Robson to have a plan discernible by just looking at the squad.<\/p>\n His pre-tournament words speak to just how targeted his approach will be. <\/p>\n \u201cI think from day one, we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect the 26 most talented players,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n England under, Tuchel have traditionally played in a 4-2-3-1. Talismanic captain Harry Kane is the focal point both on paper, and on the pitch, and it can easily be seen that the entire team has been set up to get the best out of the remarkable striker. <\/p>\n At all of his clubs, Kane has been at his best when he is able to connect with speedy wingers and attacking midfielders who run beyond him towards the box. <\/p>\n All of the attacking selections echo this line of thinking, and may offer an explanation as to why stars like Cole Palmer and Phil Foden \u2014 players who like the ball to feet more than their contemporaries in the squad \u2014 were picked ahead of them. <\/p>\n \u201cThis whole squad that Thomas Tuchel has picked – in the attacking part – is all (to focus) around him,\u201d England legend Gary Neville said on ITV. <\/p>\n \u201cThere are form issues, but there\u2019s no Foden, Palmer, (Morgan) Gibbs-White – he wants players who can run past him. Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers are players who can sprint past him.<\/p>\n \u201cThis whole squad is about Kane. This whole tournament – a lot of it rests upon his shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bold selection strategy, but it\u2019s one that has won over Sky Sports tactical analyst Harrison T-O, who pointed out the chemistry in the midfield and attack for the Three Lions.<\/p>\n \u201cRashford, Bellingham, Saka, Kane with depth in runners behind with (Nico O\u2019Reilly) and Rice too. Can anyone remember a game these all started together?\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cBecause the idea of it is brilliant to me, in theory.\u201d<\/p>\n This team is full of players who are known for making late runs into the box, which suits how Kane will play, and therefore suit the best plan for the Three Lions to find success. <\/p>\n A NEW IDENTITY <\/b><\/p>\n Another key factor for England now is the ability to move the ball from defence into attack. For too long, England have been a team of star names who could never get the ball from defence to attack with quality and consistency. <\/p>\n This team, however, has been clearly designed with technical ability and ball progression from the back as an essential building block.<\/p>\n Premier League tactical analyst James Lawrence Alcott put it simply: \u201cThis England team has been built to break the lines quicker!\u201d <\/p>\n Reece James, John Stones, Nico O\u2019Reilly, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa are all excellent passers of the ball, and the speed of which they can find their more-advanced teammates will be the difference between success and failure at this World Cup. <\/p>\n However, this is an England team, and hoofing it is of course as much part of the culture as being a bad sport and eating bacon sandwiches. <\/p>\n That idea will go back to Jordan Pickford, who possesses what can be best described as a howitzer of a left foot. With speed on either flank, and in Kane, one of the best first touches of any striker in football, do not underestimate the damage a trademark Pickford missile could do in transition. <\/p>\n \u201cPickford will clearly be the starter, his direct passing is going to be key to launching those direct attacks which Tuchel will want to see when the time is right,\u201d Alcott said.<\/p>\n In midfield, this is not a set of players to match Spain or Portugal for technical fluency \u2014 tiki taka is not the aim of the game here. When he took the job, Tuchel wanted to make sure that his side kept a strictly English identity. He said after an impressive win over Serbia last year, that his side had played \u201clike a Premier League team\u201d.<\/p>\n Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are stereotypical Premier League midfielders to a tee. Physical duel winners and ball carriers, these aren\u2019t the sort of midfielders you look to when you\u2019re after beautiful technical play. But for this style of football, where transition is key over ball retention, they\u2019re brilliant. <\/p>\n While Rice has had a special season, and is a Premier League champion, Anderson at 22-years-old has had an absurd campaign. The Nottingham Forest star is the subject of a $200 million bidding war between Manchester United and City, and has put up some truly epic numbers.<\/p>\n