The anniversary of the infamous Iceland match looms large as England prepares for the upcoming World Cup. A decade has passed since Kolbeinn Sigthórsson’s decisive goal slipped beneath Joe Hart’s reach, marking a low point for English football. The image of Wayne Rooney laboring in midfield and Harry Kane taking corners serves as a stark reminder of the struggles endured during Euro 2016.
Before Gareth Southgate’s leadership, the team’s prospects were grim. The focus was on gradual improvement, culminating in England’s penalty victory over Colombia in the 2018 World Cup, which marked their first knockout win in 12 years.
Now, the stakes are higher for Thomas Tuchel, who stepped in following Southgate’s departure after the Euro 2024 final. The Football Association aimed to secure a top-tier coach, enlisting the help of external data firms. The statistical insights played a pivotal role in Tuchel’s appointment, highlighting his potential to enhance England’s performance in knockout scenarios.
As the World Cup approaches, England’s ambition is clear: they aim to add a second star to their shirt. However, their group stage performance was less than stellar, with only a brief surge against Croatia to boast about. Despite Jude Bellingham and Kane’s strong offensive displays, various issues persist within the squad, especially as they prepare to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 32 on Wednesday.
A slip-up in Atlanta could jeopardize Tuchel’s position. The weight of expectation rests heavily on England’s shoulders, with a history of never losing to an African team at the World Cup. They won’t receive accolades for merely advancing past the DRC.
Tuchel recognizes the significance of these expectations. The recent victory over Panama was met with indifference, indicating the need for England to perform at a higher level.
Yet, Tuchel embraces the challenge. The presence of players like Kane, Jordan Henderson, and John Stones, who experienced the Iceland defeat, may influence their mindset. As Tuchel remarked, “You will not find great athletes who didn’t suffer big defeats,”
He emphasized resilience, referencing a Netflix documentary on Rafael Nadal’s career. “I thought he just wins every match out there every year,” Tuchel shared. “But you see, wow, a year of injuries, a heavy loss there, another big defeat, doubts, sleepless nights. Even if you have scars, it is just the way it is. We all had our losses. Ask me how I felt after our 1-0 against New Zealand. I still remember thinking: ‘Am I good enough, am I good enough? Did I get this right? OK, let’s keep on.’”
Tuchel’s self-standards are high. The recent friendly against New Zealand was treated as a significant assessment, prompting him to reflect on areas for improvement.
Exemplifying a relentless pursuit of excellence, Tuchel boasts a remarkable 74% win ratio in knockout competitions at the club level. He led Chelsea to Champions League victory in 2021 and has a history of success in domestic cups with Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain. This is where he thrives.
“I tell you a funny story,” he stated, though he cautioned that challenges remain. England’s recent draw against Ghana revealed difficulties in creating scoring opportunities, and Tuchel anticipates a similar defensive strategy from the DRC. Patience will be essential as the DRC aims to counter England’s potentially vulnerable defense.
Injury concerns plague the right-back position, with Reece James sidelined and Jarell Quansah recovering from an ankle issue. Tuchel faces a dilemma regarding Bukayo Saka, who is managing an Achilles problem. Balancing the need for rest against the urgency to secure a quick victory is crucial.
England possesses the talent required for success, but they must also exhibit conviction. Marcus Rashford must refine his finishing if he continues to keep Anthony Gordon on the bench. Declan Rice returns to partner Elliot Anderson in midfield after being rested against Panama, although both have faced muscular issues.
The match might be a battle of endurance, potentially leading to penalties. Tuchel’s shootout history is mixed, as he humorously recounted a previous penalty experience during his first cup final with Dortmund against Bayern Munich. “My first cup final in Germany with Dortmund in my first year, I play against Bayern and against Pep [Guardiola]. It was a nightmare because Bayern and Pep, from 120 possible points they had 130 in the season or something. It was a joke. “We had the next highest number of points and were second. We prepared everything in this match. We needed to twist the tactics, and they twisted the tactics, and we twisted the structure and he twisted the structure. People got tired and it went into extra time. “Then the whistle went and I was just not prepared. I forgot to prepare for a penalty shootout. We ended up asking the players: ‘Do you want to shoot? Do you want to shoot?’ They were ready for it. “And we were absolutely not ready. We lost. A very painful experience and a big, big scar on me. I felt I had let myself down. It was the first time. It will never happen again. From there we started our own programme, our own preparation. “Now I go into the FA and I have on the highest level a penalty programme. We trained it. We have a process in place. We are prepared. This has become a very special part of football now. “We know exactly what is going to happen. This is still no guarantee that you win it. I had crazy penalty shootouts. Now it is on the highest level, thanks to the FA, of course, and thanks to my development. It is just another example that you sometimes have to have a painful experience to understand where to get better.” he said.
“We had the next highest number of points and were second. We prepared everything in this match. We needed to twist the tactics, and they twisted the tactics, and we twisted the structure and he twisted the structure. People got tired and it went into extra time.
“Then the whistle went and I was just not prepared. I forgot to prepare for a penalty shootout. We ended up asking the players.
‘Do you want to shoot? Do you want to shoot?’
They were ready for it.
“And we were absolutely not ready. We lost. A very painful experience and a big, big scar on me. I felt I had let myself down. It was the first time. It will never happen again. From there we started our own programme, our own preparation.
“Now I go into the FA and I have on the highest level a penalty programme. We trained it. We have a process in place. We are prepared. This has become a very special part of football now.
“We know exactly what is going to happen. This is still no guarantee that you win it. I had crazy penalty shootouts. Now it is on the highest level, thanks to the FA, of course, and thanks to my development. It is just another example that you sometimes have to have a painful experience to understand where to get better.”
A decade after the Iceland loss, England will strive to avoid any repeat of that ignominy.
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- Thomas Tuchel
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- Democratic Republic of the Congo football team
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