England manager Thomas Tuchel has tagged his team as “competitors” and not “heavy favourites” as many have described the Three Lions heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Addressing reporters at a news conference, Tuchel also touched on the fitness updates of Bukayo Saka and John Stones where he gave positive updates about the pair that dealt with injuries extensively in the 2025-2026 season.
England beat New Zealand 1-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly and are billed to play another friendly game against Costa Rica on Wednesday, June 10 as they prepare to play against Ghana, Croatia and Panama in Group L at the World Cup.
Despite having Harry Kane, Europe’s leading goal scorer and a quartet of players from English Premier League Champions Arsenal including Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze in the team, and making two European Championship final appearances in a row, Tuchel fell short of calling his team title favourites.
“If you get to two Euros finals, and reach semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup, then you are there – then you can win it. We see ourselves as competitors and challengers. We want to go all the way but I don’t think we are the heavy favourites.”
“You can win it, of course. That’s what we want to do. We know what it takes, and it also requires a calm mindset and focus on our steps. I have belief. We all have belief and a dream”Tuchel said.
