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  "path": "/sport/football/thomas-tuchel-england-panama-world-cup-foreign",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-27T10:03:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "England star reveals 'clear the air talks' with Thomas Tuchel before Panama World Cup match",
    "Kylian Mbappe involved in bizarre Michael Oliver moment during France World Cup win over Norway",
    "Iran captain launches astonishing attack on Fifa as World Cup branded 'a disaster'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThomas Tuchel has admitted the \"biggest con\" of managing England is not having an English passport, insisting his nationality has never affected his connection with the team or supporters.\n\nThe German was asked about being a foreign England manager ahead of tonight's World Cup clash with Panama and responded with a light-hearted answer before explaining why he feels completely at home in the role.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"The biggest con is I don't have an English passport but that's maybe it,\" Tuchel said.\n\n\"That was clear from the beginning, I love to be the England coach and I was never shy about that.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n\"I have huge affection for the country and for the people in the country and the way they approach football and sports in general.\"\n\nTuchel arrived in the job having spent a successful spell in the Premier League with Chelsea, where he won the Champions League, and believes his time in England helped forge a lasting attachment to the country.\n\n\"I fell in love with the country and the Premier League,\" he explained.\n\n\"That was a dream, to work there.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Now to have the chance to work with these kind of players is an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful for it.\n\n\"No one wants it more than me.\"\n\nTuchel insisted the debate surrounding his nationality has never been an issue internally, revealing he immediately felt a bond with both his squad and the wider footballing culture in England.\n\n\"It has nothing to do with my passport,\" he added.\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * England star reveals 'clear the air talks' with Thomas Tuchel before Panama World Cup match\n  * Kylian Mbappe involved in bizarre Michael Oliver moment during France World Cup win over Norway\n  * Iran captain launches astonishing attack on Fifa as World Cup branded 'a disaster'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"I feel a connection to the players, I feel a connection to the country and that was maybe the most important.\n\n\"The people who gave me the responsibility felt that connection and from there we go.\"\n\nEngland head into their final Group L fixture knowing victory over Panama would secure top spot, while a draw could also prove enough depending on the result between Ghana and Croatia.\n\nTuchel also provided an update on his squad, confirming that only Reece James will miss the encounter after the Chelsea defender suffered a minor hamstring problem.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Everyone except Reece James is available and ready to go,\" Tuchel said.\n\n\"Elliot Anderson was in full training today and Declan Rice was in full training today.\n\n\"They felt, both they had minor issues after the match.\n\n\"We will take the decision tonight.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe England boss remains hopeful James could feature later in the tournament despite leaving the full-back behind at the team's Kansas City training base.\n\n\"We have hopes for the next match,\" Tuchel said.\n\n\"It may be a tight one but he didn't travel with us.\"\n\nTuchel was also asked for his thoughts on the expanded 48-team World Cup format, admitting players and coaches would prefer a more condensed schedule but accepting the changes provide opportunities for nations that previously struggled to qualify.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"We are spoiled because our nations are regularly part of a tournament and the big nations compete every four years,\" he said.\n\n\"But for smaller countries, underdog countries, they can take this opportunity, and that's what the format is.\n\n\"We adapt. We have had a good camp so far.\n\n\"It is very demanding, but that is what it is.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Thomas Tuchel explains 'biggest con' of being foreign England manager ahead of Panama World Cup match"
}