England's World Cup hopes could come down to penalties, and manager Thomas Tuchel has made clear he is sticking with the meticulous blueprint developed by his predecessor Sir Gareth Southgate. On Wednesday, England face DR Congo in their first knockout game in Atlanta, a match that opens up the possibility of a shootout. Tuchel revealed that the Football Association's penalty programme remains in place, saying: "We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process." But he also admitted the difficulty of simulating the real pressure: "I heard Thierry Henry say he can't remember the walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot in his first penalty shootout for France – you cannot train that."
Under Southgate, England transformed their penalty record. Before his appointment in 2016, England had won just one of seven major tournament shootouts. From 2018 to 2024, they won three out of four. Southgate's approach was based on the belief that penalties were not a lottery. He insisted on regular practice that replicated match conditions as closely as possible, aiming to make the process driven by muscle memory. He selected his takers well in advance from training, publicly took full accountability to shield his players, and assigned each taker a "buddy" to greet them at the halfway line after the long walk back, spreading the pressure. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford would have notes from detailed research on opponents' likely takers written on his water bottle. After the Euro 2020 final loss to Italy, where substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho missed after being brought on with seconds left, Southgate adjusted to give penalty takers more time on the pitch beforehand.
“Explains England's penalty shootout plan under Thomas Tuchel, continuing Gareth Southgate's approach, and why it matters for the World Cup.”
Tuchel's own experiences have shaped his approach. Ten years ago, as Borussia Dortmund manager, he lost a German Cup final to Bayern Munich on penalties – a match he admits he was not properly prepared for. That defeat left "scars", he says, but taught him a painful lesson that has served him well in knockout football. He recalls that even after a 1-0 win over New Zealand as England boss, he doubted himself: "Am I good enough, am I good enough? Did I get this right?" He watched a Netflix documentary on Rafael Nadal, noting that even the greatest athletes suffer self-doubt and big defeats. "It helps you to remember the moment, how painful," Tuchel said. His overall knockout record stands at 74 per cent, but there have been setbacks, such as Chelsea's back-to-back domestic cup final shootout losses to Liverpool in 2022.
For UK readers, the plan is crucial because England's tournament fate often rests on spot-kicks. The team's shootout record has become a national talking point, and the approach used by Tuchel – continuing Southgate's work – offers fans a sense of continuity and hope. Knowing that the squad has a structured process, with pre-determined takers and support mechanisms, may ease anxiety during tense moments. However, Tuchel's caution about the limits of training underscores that no plan can fully replicate the psychological weight of a World Cup shootout.
Q: Who takes penalties for England under Thomas Tuchel? Tuchel has said: "We know who takes them and we know the order, but we don't know who finishes the game." The decision on takers is based on training performance, but the final lineup depends on which players are on the pitch at the end of extra time.
Q: How did Gareth Southgate change England's penalty approach? Southgate introduced regular, realistic training sessions, pre-selected takers, public accountability, and "buddies" to greet each player after their walk from the halfway line. He also had detailed research on opponents' penalty takers written on Jordan Pickford's water bottle.
Q: What was the lesson from the German Cup final defeat for Tuchel? In 2016, Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund lost to Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich in the German Cup final on penalties. Tuchel admitted he did not prepare properly for a shootout, and that failure taught him the importance of preparation – a lesson he now applies with England.
What happens next: England face DR Congo on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, in Atlanta, with kick-off at 17:00 BST live on BBC One and iPlayer. If the match goes to penalties, Tuchel will rely on the FA programme and Southgate's blueprint. Beyond this game, the plan will continue to be used throughout the World Cup should England progress further.