After a thrilling win over Mexico, England took a while to come down — but Thomas Tuchel has re‑focused the squad for their World Cup quarter‑final against Norway. The German manager steered the Three Lions through a tense group stage and now faces a side led by Erling Haaland, with a place in the semi‑finals at stake. A triple fitness boost saw key players including James Guehi and Declan Rice train ahead of the clash, though four others are at risk of suspension should they pick up another booking.
Win against Norway, and the dream of a first World Cup since 1966 edges closer — a prize that, for the manager, could come with a remarkable personal honour. When Sir Alf Ramsey lifted the Jules Rimet trophy 60 years ago, he was knighted a year later. Fans and pundits have already begun to demand that Tuchel receive the same recognition if football finally comes home again.
“Thomas Tuchel could receive an honorary knighthood if England win the World Cup, but he would not be allowed to use 'Sir'.”
But as a German national — neither a UK nor Commonwealth citizen — Tuchel would face different rules. His knighthood would be classed as an honorary award, meaning he could not legally style himself as "Sir Thomas." The ceremonial dubbing would also be skipped. He would, however, be entitled to use the post‑nominal letters KBE (Knight Commander of the British Empire), allowing him to sign his name as Thomas Tuchel KBE.
For now, such talk remains hypothetical. The immediate task is Norway — a team that has already proved troublesome for England in recent meetings. Tuchel has stressed the need to stay grounded after the euphoria of the Mexico victory, warning that complacency would be fatal. The message seems to have landed: training has been sharp, and the atmosphere focused.
If England do go all the way, the debate over Tuchel’s knighthood will intensify. Can a German manager ever truly be "Sir" in the eyes of the public, even if the title itself is out of reach? The answer may depend on whether he does what no England manager has done since Ramsey — bring the World Cup back.