Thomas Tuchel will stick to Sir Gareth Southgate's penalty shootout plan at the World Cup, the England manager has confirmed, as his side prepare for a knockout tie that could be decided from the spot.
Tuchel's England face DR Congo in their first knockout game on Wednesday in Atlanta, a fixture that opens up the possibility of penalties. The match kicks off at 17:00 BST and is live on BBC One and iPlayer.
“Tuchel will use Southgate's penalty plan; admits 'scars' from losing German Cup final on penalties to Guardiola.”
England's penalty record under Southgate improved dramatically – three wins in four shootouts between 2018 and 2024 – after a meticulous approach that included regular practice, assigning each taker a "buddy" to greet them at the halfway line, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford carrying detailed research notes on his water bottle.
Tuchel admitted he still bears the "scars" of a defeat to Pep Guardiola in the 2016 German Cup final, when his Borussia Dortmund side lost to Bayern Munich on penalties – a game where Tuchel said he did not prepare properly for a shootout.
“I'll tell you a funny story – not so funny for me,” Tuchel said. “My first cup final in Germany with Dortmund in my first year, I play against Bayern and against Pep. It was a nightmare.”
That painful lesson has shaped his approach. “Yes, we have some scars – it helps you, actually. It helps you to remember the moment, how painful,” he said.
The England boss also admitted he still wrestles with self-doubt, speaking after watching a Netflix documentary on Rafael Nadal. “You will not find great athletes who didn't suffer big defeats,” Tuchel said. “Even if you have scars, it is just the way it is.
“Ask me how I felt after our 1-0 against New Zealand. I still remember thinking: ‘Am I good enough, am I good enough? Did I get this right?’”
On the penalty plan, Tuchel said: “The FA has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme. We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process.”
He added: “We know who takes them and we know the order, but we don't know who finishes the game.”
England right-backs Quansah and James missed training ahead of the match, while Declan Rice is pushing for a return to the starting XI.