England coach Thomas Tuchel don face journalists before him side Nations League campaign. E call am amazing start. E talk say for 18 months, dem get some fantastic and positive results, immaculate qualifying campaign, two friendlies, eight World Cup games, 10 matches in US, eight victories, one draw and one loss. The loss hurt well well and still dey pain am.
Tuchel say this cycle of 10 matches na something we want repeat, target na to go all the way in Nations League. If dem reach final four, e go be another 10 matches; six matches safe for Nations League but dem want make am 10 to create another cycle.
E feel say next campaign and next cycle don start with France match. Dem lose against Argentina, but dem no out totally because bronze medal match dey. How dem play and win against maybe strongest team, strongest squad at the moment, e difficult but impressive. E direct narrative for wetin dey come.
Next match na against reigning world champions Spain. Tuchel say gap dey close, dem feel close, dem want prove point, stadium sold out and motivation no fit higher.
On players wey nearly enter selection, Tuchel talk about Ben White. Ben pull out with injury, had fantastic start with Arsenal, back to best on side especially with Bukayo Saka. E say that could valuable for England to get two players on side, but Ben no available for World Cup and now. Tuchel call am small story with Ben: whenever call-ups dey happen, he no dey available.
Tuchel mention Josh King, Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha. Three players dey prep camp with England. All three fantastic members of squad, nice, reliable, excellent characters. Dem show quality, courage and curiosity on pitch. Josh especially had fantastic start with Fulham, e very close, but Tuchel decide keep squad tight and keep players wey come into camp with trust. Josh dey with U21, but he close and on radar. Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha dey on list for upcoming window.
Asked whether losing 2020 Champions League final as PSG manager help after World Cup semi-final defeat, Tuchel think. After pause, e say na beauty of high-level sport: you no fit always win, e make you feel alive. Not in very nice way, but you still feel pain of high-pressure moments. As soon as you enter knockout football, e new level of pressure.
On Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel confirm say he come in as right-back. E say Trent need perform. E be competition. Tuchel understand question because Trent no dey World Cup; dem trust other players. E still stand by decision, and now na time for Trent fight for him place. Trent always say he dey up for fight, especially for England, so na on him to prove. He more than welcome for camp, long camp dey, and Tuchel sure say he go show up.
On Cole Palmer and Trent inclusion, Tuchel say dem get good start to season. Dem never do anything wrong. England just choose different players. Now na new competition, some positions get more injuries, some less. Cole get him start, numbers back, assists back, decisive goals back, na why he dey squad. Tuchel think Cole get point to prove, same for Trent. Trent never off list, never non-selectable, na him chance to show, come camp and be best version of himself. He had good start in two positions for Real Madrid and he come as right-back for England.
Tuchel say door always open 100% for players to return. First through performance, then same level through behaviour and commitment to team spirit because dem build something special. Before nominations last month, e think say squad go continue more from World Cup squad, but many members no dey due to injuries: Reece James, Dean Henderson, John Stones, Jordan Henderson, Djed Spence. So e no be full continuation. New players go step up because those players crucial for brotherhood, spirit and mentality. England no go negotiate, give in or compromise on that. Other players go step up and get minutes. Him mindset no be to change formation too much inside match if possible. If e no make sense to play players too much, dem no go overload them. Door always open to impress, always open to take place.
Tuchel also talk about fans. E say 99.9% fans no dey talk tactical things. Dem talk where dem watch Mexico game, second-half energy of Croatia match. Na feedback e get. E say na wetin dem create and how e suppose be. World Cup na to connect with people and give experiences wey dem no go forget. E make am proud.
On FA, Tuchel joke say FA tell am off for substitution strategy during semi-final defeat against Argentina. Then he clarify say he dey joke. E say he feel full support of him bosses throughout World Cup.
Tuchel talk about Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest. E say Morgan close, but e no make sense to name three, four or five number 10s. On World Cup selection, Tuchel say he never get one sleepless night. E feel unfulfilled, but na so e be. E say no much sense in torturing ourselves. He no go allow 30 minutes of World Cup override how dem view achievement.
On game against Spain, he say gap dey closing, dem close and want prove point. E stress say success against France in third-place play-off suppose get recognition, because he believe dem get best squad in world at the moment. E praise squad for bouncing back in third-place play-off after losing to Argentina in semi-final. E say direction in sport always forward, never backwards. E talk about mentality, resilience and brotherhood.
Liverpool Rio Ngumoha don receive England call-up. The 18-year-old go dey part of Thomas Tuchel side for four upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. Three Lions face Czechia on September 29 and October 6, Spain on September 26 and Croatia on October 3. Ngumoha make him senior debut for England in pre-World Cup friendly against New Zealand in June.
