“Football’s coming home again, with Tommy Tuchel” – those were the chants that echoed around Atlanta Stadium as thousands of fans poured into the sweltering Georgia evening after England’s 2-1 victory over DR Congo. The mood was euphoric. England had won, DR Congo had lost, and the Three Lions were now just four wins away from ending six decades of heartbreak and lifting the long-awaited World Cup.

On the surface, there’s every reason for optimism. But dig deeper, and the familiar cracks begin to show. Despite 18 months under Thomas Tuchel’s leadership, the fundamental issues that plagued Sir Gareth Southgate’s England remain unresolved – especially when it comes to tournament performances.

Even after the win over Congo, the performance evoked memories of Southgate’s England: uninspired, overly cautious, and reliant on star power to get across the line. If Tuchel was supposed to be the antidote to that, the evidence so far suggests the transformation hasn’t materialised. The manager might be new, but England’s football feels eerily familiar.

Lessons from Euro 2024

Euro 2024 offered little clarity. Under pressure from fans and pundits to “take the handbrake off,” Southgate unleashed his attacking options. The outcome? England reached the final, but never truly impressed along the way.

That summer’s campaign featured two group-stage draws and a scrappy 1-0 win over Serbia. In the knockouts, England needed Jude Bellingham’s injury-time magic to beat Slovakia, penalties to edge Switzerland, and a late Ollie Watkins goal to dispatch a mediocre Netherlands side. Their best display came in the final against Spain – yet even then, they were second-best. It was the perfect example of a team reaching a final without ever finding top gear.

England’s resilience carried them far, but their reliance on individual brilliance was glaring. Bellingham and Harry Kane struck against Slovakia, Bukayo Saka equalised versus Switzerland, and Cole Palmer came off the bench to score in the final. The team’s structure was rigid, their creativity minimal, but their talent bailed them out time and again.

Fear under pressure

When the stakes rose, England’s collective nerve faltered. In the final 15 minutes of the Euro 2024 final, with the score 1-1, Spain completely dominated. From Kyle Walker’s throw-in in the 75th minute to the final whistle, England were pinned back and outclassed.

Spain completed 105 passes to England’s 27, made 39 passes in the final third compared to England’s 10, and moved the ball forward 63 times to England’s 15. It was a timid, risk-averse showing – and Spain punished them with an 86th-minute winner. When England needed courage, they retreated.

After the match, Southgate admitted: “We had a throw-in in their third of the pitch and we definitely had an opportunity to keep the ball in that area of the pitch but we played backwards. And then there was a long period after that where we didn’t get the ball again. There was a turning point within that.”

Spain were favourites, yes, but England’s collapse was self-inflicted. The intensity vanished, the urgency disappeared, and even the most experienced players froze under pressure.

The same story in Atalanta

The same worrying patterns resurfaced against DR Congo. England started slowly, struggling to string passes together. Declan Rice misplaced a few passes, Kane miscontrolled once and played backwards another time. Congo struck first after seven minutes with a sharp counter-attack.

Djed Spence’s defending was questioned, but the issue ran deeper. England only came alive after falling behind, but even then, they lacked conviction. They were fortunate not to trail 2-0 at half-time when Yoane Wissa’s effort hit the post.

In attack, ideas were scarce. The approach seemed to be: “Give the ball to Bellingham and hope.” Marcus Rashford was lively but blunt, Noni Madueke kept repeating the same move, and Elliot Anderson looked lost. Ezri Konsa, a centre-back, played the most passes into the final third – an indictment of England’s lack of creativity.

Then Kane stepped up, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes – two superb finishes that sealed the win and sparked “England GOAT” chatter. But his heroics shouldn’t have been necessary.

When asked if his team felt the weight of expectation, Tuchel dismissed it outright. “I did not see any of that today, and it would be so easy to see. It would be so easy to accept that narrative. I don’t see any of that,” he insisted.

Dependence on star power

Tuchel’s denial was predictable. He’s a principled coach, unlikely to publicly criticise his players. But the numbers tell a stark story. England have scored eight times this World Cup – Kane and Bellingham have combined for seven of those goals. The eighth came from Rashford in stoppage time, assisted by Saka. Anthony Gordon has two assists, both from the Congo match, while most of the creative spark has come from Bellingham and Saka in brief flashes.

The rest of the side has been organised but overly careful. Other than Jordan Pickford’s mistake for Congo’s opener, England haven’t erred much – but they’ve been painfully dull. Possession dominates, but purpose is lacking.

Konsa and Marc Guehi have been England’s top passers, mainly recycling the ball. Against Congo, England resorted to hopeful crosses. That it worked was down to Kane’s brilliance, not tactical ingenuity.

“Keep pounding the rock”

Tuchel preferred to highlight the positives, saying after the match: “The message was always the same: Keep pounding the rock. Keep on knocking, knocking, knocking. Keep believing, keep on doing what we do. Don’t give in.”

England did keep fighting in Atalanta – but their persistence often felt repetitive rather than inventive. Congo’s goalkeeper produced some superb saves, yet England rarely looked in control. The anxiety was palpable.

Who’s at fault?

Responsibility lies somewhere between players and manager. Tuchel’s philosophy values shape, discipline, and risk management. He prefers wide players who deliver crosses and strikers who finish chances, but he’s wary of exposure on the counter-attack. He even referenced England’s defensive solidity in a 0-0 draw with Ghana as a positive.

That ideology shaped his squad selection. Creative, fluid players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, and Trent Alexander-Arnold were left out for being too unpredictable. Tuchel values control over creativity, believing one risky flourish isn’t worth 90 minutes of potential chaos.

The deeper flaw

That approach reinforces England’s long-standing psychological barrier. Southgate began by prioritising solidity, then shifted toward expression, eventually becoming more of a symbolic figure than a tactical innovator. Tuchel represents a balance – a tactically astute coach who recognises his stars’ quality but still fears losing control.

But the core problem persists: England’s players seem shackled by fear. From Russia 2018 to Germany 2024, each near-miss has followed the same pattern – talent constrained by tension, promise undone by caution. Southgate’s England were likeable yet limited. Tuchel’s version is more sophisticated, but no freer.

Thomas Tuchel may be a sharper tactician than his predecessor, but he’s discovering the same truth: this England team is still afraid to truly express itself. Meet the new England – same as the old one.