Fabio Capello urges Thomas Tuchel to address England World Cup fear
Former England manager Fabio Capello has warned Thomas Tuchel that he must eradicate the national team’s tendency to play with fear if they are to win the upcoming World Cup in North America.
The 78-year-old Italian believes physical exhaustion and a deep-rooted psychological block remain the biggest hurdles for the current squad.
Under his guidance at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the Three Lions managed just three goals in four matches before suffering a disappointing last-16 elimination.
The ex-Real Madrid boss has long attributed that underwhelming campaign to fatigue caused by the absence of a domestic winter break in the English game.
Overcoming the psychological hurdle
Despite Gareth Southgate leading the side to back-to-back European Championship finals and a World Cup quarter-final, the ultimate prize remains elusive.
The former Juventus manager insists that mental frailty continues to surface during crucial moments on the biggest international stages.
“This is the problem for England. They are tired and they fear. The manager, he has to cancel these two things.”
He specifically highlighted the Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy at Wembley as a prime example of this recurring issue.
“I remember the game against Italy. They are winning after 10-15 minutes and after they don’t play. They play with fear.”
Tuchel faces crucial summer test
The newly appointed German coach took charge in 2024 following Southgate’s departure, comfortably guiding his team through qualification with a flawless record.
However, recent preparations for the global showpiece have highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the camp.
The European heavyweights played out a 1-1 draw against Uruguay last month before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat by Japan in their latest friendly fixtures.
The upcoming tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will run from 11 June to 19 July.
