England boss Thomas Tuchel focused on ‘hunger,’ not records
MANCHESTER, England – England manager Thomas Tuchel said his squad is focused solely on maintaining competitive intensity rather than pursuing potential defensive records as they prepare to face Albania in their final fixture of the calendar year on Sunday.
Tuchel, who succeeded Gareth Southgate earlier this year, began his tenure with a 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley in March and closes out his first 12 months in charge against the same opponent in Tirana. England enter the match having already secured early qualification for the 2026 World Cup and have won all seven of their Group K fixtures without conceding, a run Albania coach Sylvinho jokingly described as “disgusting.”
Victory on Sunday would make England the first European team to win at least six World Cup qualifiers in a single campaign without conceding a goal, but Tuchel insisted the milestone has not been discussed within the squad.
“We didn’t speak a single word about that,” Tuchel told reporters at Air Albania Stadium. “The quality and mentality of the guys who didn’t play in the last match was outstanding. It shows we are going in the right direction. The hunger is still there and that’s the most important thing.”
Tuchel emphasised that the coaching staff remain focused on foundational performance rather than external benchmarks. “Everything we talk about is the process and the things we can influence,” he said. “Thinking about records doesn’t change anything. We need to deliver again tomorrow, and I trust the players to do that.”
England travelled with a 23-man squad after Ezri Konsa withdrew due to a calf injury, forcing at least one change to the side that beat Serbia 2-0 on Thursday. Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden all impressed from the bench, with Foden operating as a false nine in place of captain Harry Kane.
Despite that tactical flexibility, Tuchel indicated he is unlikely to enter next summer’s World Cup with only one traditional striker. “I don’t think so,” he said. “It’s possible but unlikely. We will aim for a balanced squad with different profiles. I cannot rule out going with one No.9, but it is very likely we will have more classic strikers.”
The match in Tirana provides England with another opportunity to reinforce their defensive structure and attacking fluidity under Tuchel, who is shaping the squad with an emphasis on competitiveness, depth and tactical adaptability. As preparations for 2026 build, England’s consistency in qualifying continues to strengthen the manager’s long-term framework.