England’s Croatia victory strengthens Tuchel’s Euro 2028 prospects
England’s emphatic 7-0 win over Croatia has strengthened the case for Thomas Tuchel and his developing team, though the article cautions against reading too much into one Nations League result. With Euro 2028 approaching, the key question is whether England have a clear style and are making progress; the writer sees encouraging signs on both fronts.
Croatia were subdued, and England’s young midfield outplayed Luka Modrić, but the result came against an opponent described as underpowered. The article argues that England’s World Cup experience has helped them improve, with Jude Bellingham central to the team’s development. Tuchel’s next 20 months are presented as crucial preparation for a tournament England may have a strong chance of winning.
- England beat Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League.
- The result offered signs of a coherent, improving team.
- Tuchel’s focus is building towards Euro 2028.
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Thomas Tuchel was appointed as England's football manager to prepare the team for the 2028 European Championship, one of international football's most important competitions held every four years in Italy and Albania. He has roughly 20 months to build a competitive team and establish a clear playing style.
The team centres on younger players, particularly midfielder Jude Bellingham who plays for Real Madrid. Bellingham is seen as central to England's development and their chances at the tournament.
Nations League matches, where these games take place, are competitive international fixtures used by managers to test tactics and develop their squads. Results in such matches do not always reflect how a team will perform in the high-pressure environment of major tournaments.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A 7-0 victory demonstrates genuine improvement in England's tactical execution and squad cohesion under Tuchel, with a promising young midfield outplaying established talent like Modrić and Jude Bellingham providing a clear focal point for team development. With 20 months of preparation ahead, England has adequate time to build on these encouraging fundamentals and constitute a credible contender for Euro 2028.
The case against
Nations League matches carry little competitive intensity compared to major tournament football, and Croatia's evident weakness on the day makes any broad conclusions about England's trajectory premature and unreliable. A single emphatic result against diminished opposition provides insufficient evidence of structural improvement, and history suggests England frequently performs impressively in minor competitions whilst underperforming when tournament stakes genuinely matter.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Let’s stop doubting Thomas Tuchel: England are impressive and Euro 2028 is the target”.