Thomas Tuchel says England “have to do better” despite his first game as Three Lions boss ending in a 2-0 victory over Albania.
A debut goal for Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly and captain Harry Kane’s 70th strike for the national team ensured they made a winning start to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
It was far from a thrilling England display, although not helped by an Albania side who put 11 men behind the ball for large periods of the Wembley encounter.
“We can do better, we have to do better,” Tuchel told ITV.
“We started well, we had seven or eight minutes with 100% ball possession with a lot of passes and high energy.
“The opponent is hard to break down as they defend in a deep block. In the Euros [last year] they managed to not concede chances.
“Second half, I felt we were too slow and in general not enough runs off the ball to get behind the line.”
Tuchel made a number of bold decisions for his first match in charge, including handing Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle defender Dan Burn their debuts.
The German was rewarded with encouraging displays from both, with Lewis-Skelly providing a neat finish through the legs of the goalkeeper for the 20th-minute opener, before Kane added a 77th-minute second.
“Amazing player,” Tuchel said of the 18-year-old Gunners left-back.
“Amazing personality. He came into camp and showed straight away that it’s normal to fall in love with him.
“It is well deserved.”
Another surprise decision by Tuchel was to hand Marcus Rashford his first England start in a year.
The Manchester United forward, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa, linked up well with Jude Bellingham at times, but also made some poor decisions in the final third.
Manchester City forward Phil Foden, meanwhile, struggled to impose himself as he started on the right of the forward line.
“Both of our wingers that started were not as impactful as they can be or as they are in club football,” added Tuchel.
“At the moment I’m not so sure why we struggled to bring the ball quicker to them, to bring the ball in more [of an] open position to them, I need to review the match.
“We lacked a bit of runs off the ball, so it was a bit too much passing and not enough dribbling. Not aggressive enough towards goal.
“They were very good in the last weeks in their clubs. We will keep encouraging them and give them a structure so they can show their potential.”
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