Harry Kane’s Impact on Tuchel and Ex-Chelsea Player: Winners and Losers of England’s Appointment

A new boss. A new beginning. As with any workplace, a fresh face at the helm gives the downtrodden a fresh spring in their step but will send a shudder down the necks of the current teacher’s pets.

Thomas Tuchel was confirmed as the next England manager on Wednesday morning and the 51-year-old’s appointment could not be more of a departure from the culture of the last decade.

The former Chelsea boss is the kind of ‘world-class trophy winner’ prescribed by the outgoing Lee Carsley, his Champions League win at Stamford Bridge and treble at Paris Saint-Germain providing a sharp contrast with Gareth Southgate’s empty cabinet.

The German is also a more abrasive character than his polite English predecessor and Three Lions fans might be wise to buckle up their seatbelts ahead of an 18 months which promises dressing room bust-ups and press conference outbursts.

The lives of England’s litany of stars might be about to change, for better or for worse, and Mail Sport takes on the task of gazing into our crystal ball and plotting the futures of Tuchel’s talented team.

The serial winner has never managed at international level but seen success in the top leagues 

England U21 boss Lee Carsley has been in interim charge of the Three Lions since Gareth Southgate’s departure

Winners

Harry Kane

It seems funny to say England’s record scorer could be any more respected in a Three Lions shirt, but a reunion with his former boss can only be good news for Harry Kane.

He might have scored 68 goals in 101 matches for the national side, but the striker has come under fire of late thanks to some underwhelming performances at Euro 2024.

The England captain looked slugglish up front for Southgate’s side, his dire tournament summarised neatly by an early hooking in the final against Spain and semi-final against the Netherlands.

His replacement Ollie Watkins showed Three Lions fans what they were missing with a memorable winner to dispatch the Dutch and injected energy into a lethargic lineup.

Kane has had a glittering career but is still only 31-years-old and, after scoring 44 goals in as many matches under Tuchel, seems set to remain England’s number nine.

The incoming boss previously said: ‘It’s just a gift, I feel very privileged to be his coach. The guy is super humble, he’s the first out there on the pitch every single day and anything you ask of him, he will do it.

It seems funny to say England’s record scorer Harry Kane could be any more respected in a Three Lions shirt

‘He’s a huge personality who becomes a shark on the field, because he wants to score, he wants to win, and he does it on a daily basis. He doesn’t only score on a daily basis, he trains well, he does what is needed, he shows his quality.

‘He calms everyone down around him and makes everyone better by his pure presence. It’s the highest level, I can put it like this, as a human being but also as a footballer. He can play as a nine, a fox in the box like no other with outstanding finishing, but he also assists.’

Eric Dier 

Cast out at Tottenham, Eric Dier has experienced something of a career renaissance and he has Tuchel to thank.

Making just four appearances in the first half of last season, the centre-back made the shock move to the dominant German side and thrived in a solid Bayern Munich defence.

Dier remains a key part of the machine at the Allianz Arena but has not turned out for England since a 13-minute substitute appearance against Senegal at Qatar 2022.

Tuchel could hand the 30-year-old a golden ticket to make a charge back into the Three Lions setup. He liked Dier as a distance admirer at Chelsea and liked him even more when he shored up his Bayern back line.

Earlier this year, the manager said: ‘I am very happy with him. He’s exceeded all expectations. 

Eric Dier has not turned out for England since a 13-minute substitute appearance against Senegal at Qatar 2022

Tuchel could hand the 30-year-old a golden ticket to make a charge back into the Three Lions

‘He’s an extremely important piece of the puzzle. He’s organized, he’s vocal, we didn’t have that much.’

An England return might seem fanciful, but so would have a big transfer to Bayern this time last year. 

Reece James

One man presumably rubbing his hands together from his treatment table at the news of Tuchel’s hiring is Reece James.

The Chelsea man has not played for the national team since March 2023 and that feels like an age ago.

His last 90 minutes in an England shirt was against Germany in a 3-3 draw in September 2022 but injuries have blighted his career for club and country since then.

Once he is physically capable of getting on the pitch, he may well stay there. Tuchel was a tremendous fan of the right-back at Chelsea and he had his two best appearance-making seasons in the Premier League under the German.

In fact, his manager loved him so much he once revealed he wanted to clone him.

Reece James’s last 90 minutes in an England shirt was against Germany in a 3-3 draw in September 2022

Tuchel was a tremendous fan of the right-back at Chelsea and he had his two best appearance-making seasons in the Premier League under the German

‘I would love to have two of Reece James, that would solve the problem, it’s like 50 per cent towards wing-back and 45 per cent towards the back three,’ Tuchel said in 2022. 

‘It depends a little bit on how the opponent plays against us.’

Just one fit James would do for now. 

Mason Mount 

Another forgotten man who could be cast a Three Lions lifeline by a new manager.

Mason Mount was all the rage heading into Euro 2021, his energy and enthusiasm was loved by Southgate and was important in allowing England’s wealth of attacking options to strut their stuff.

The Manchester United man has had a tough time since that tournament, shunned by his boyhood Chelsea side and last playing for England in their World Cup quarter-final exit to France in 2022.

But Tuchel always had time for Mount, praising him and Phil Foden as the future of the Three Lions front line.

Mason Mount last played for England in their World Cup quarter-final exit to France in 2022

But Tuchel always had time for his former player, praising him and Phil Foden as the future of the Three Lions front line

‘They are an example of how good these young players can be, how good young players from England can be,’ he said ahead of his side’s Champions League final win over Manchester City in 2021.

‘They are the outstanding examples at the moment. I can’t speak for Phil Foden because he is not my player, but you can see clearly that he has the talent and desire to decide games at any moment at any level. 

‘He is a huge player and I get the impression that he is the same nice guy and character as Mason.

‘Most importantly, they are hungry and humble. They behave exactly how you want players their age to behave. They want to learn, they want to get better, and it seems like they don’t feel the pressure which is pretty amazing.’

Foden has gone on to win six Premier League titles and a Champions League while Mount’s career has stood still but the midfielder is still young and full of that verve which shot him onto the world stage.

His performances for United will have to improve drastically, but under Tuchel he stands the chance of mounting a comeback. 

Declan Rice 

Like Kane, the Arsenal man is not short of admirers, but counting your national manager among your fans can surely do no harm.

Declan Rice has become an England stalwart over the last four years, making the holding midfield role his own albeit in the face of scant competition. 

New boss Tuchel’s fervent desire to add him into an already strong Bayern midfield proves an indicator that the 25-year-old is here to stay.

Declan Rice has become an England stalwart over the last four years under Gareth Southgate

During his time at Bayern Munich, Tuchel had attempted to lure the midfielder to Bavaria 

He told a press conference in 2023 that none of his players played quite like Rice did and later added: ‘We don’t have a holding six midfielder who thinks more defensively and takes more care about the deep end of the pitch and is more concerned about protection. 

‘It’s just an observation that we lack a certain type of player.’

Well, Tuchel has his wish now and he can enjoy the fruits of Rice – for 18 months at least. 

Losers 

Conor Gallagher 

Tuchel loves England and has been plotting a return to the country since his departure from Chelsea two years ago.

Indeed, Christian Falk, head of football for BILD, claimed on Tuesday that the manager was ‘accepted more than in Germany’.

Perhaps with an eye on something of a dream job at the helm of the Three Lions, Tuchel has scarcely extended his famously temperamental personality towards England’s talents.

He did, however, once have an awkward encounter at a pub with Conor Gallagher, who had been tossed across London to Crystal Palace on loan for the season.

Cup-tied for the Eagles’ FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea, the midfielder went for a pub lunch with his family to take his mind off being on the sidelines for the huge match. 

Tuchel once had an awkward encounter at a pub with Conor Gallagher, who had been tossed across London to Crystal Palace

Cup-tied for the Eagles’ FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea, the midfielder went for a pub lunch with his family to take his mind off being on the sidelines

There are more than 2,000 pubs in London and, remarkably, Gallagher ended up bumping into perhaps the last person he wanted to see – Tuchel. 

In an exasperating meeting, the academy product’s father rather stuck his foot in it, as Gallagher explained in 2022.

‘I was out for lunch with my parents and my girlfriend,’ he said. ‘He turned up with a couple of the staff. 

‘It wasn’t even me [who spoke to Tuchel], it was my dad! He goes, “any chance of him being able to play in the semi-final?” and Tuchel just went, “no chance”. He just laughed it off.’

No hard feelings, you would hope, but the Atletico Madrid star might have to make up for his father’s brazen outburst if he wants to get back in the England side.

Ben Chilwell 

Things couldn’t get much worse for the left-back.

Unwanted, injury prone, and unable to find a club despite being part of the infamous Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ this summer, Ben Chilwell could do with a fresh start.

But the return of a familiar face in the England hot seat will do little to improve his mood as Tuchel, who cast the defender aside towards the end of his reign at Stamford Bridge, mulls over his lack of options on the left-hand side.

Unwanted, injury prone, and unable to find a club, Ben Chilwell could do with a fresh start

But the return of a familiar face in the England hot seat will do little to improve his mood

The German used Chilwell regularly early in his spell as boss but the full-back lost his place to Marcos Alonso in the 2022-23 campaign.

Tuchel said at the time: ‘In my opinion, he lacks rhythm and a bit of feeling from the game, this is what I see in training. The player always thinks he is ready, but I think there are some things still missing. 

‘Chilly needed his time in training to adapt to the intensity.’

The left-back’s priority will be to find a club that will have him but, once he has achieved this, he faces a battle to convince his former boss he can stay fit and firing.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 

Sometimes one can fall down the pecking order simply because those around you experience a surge in their stock.

It’s a stretch, given his recent revival in an England shirt, but Trent Alexander-Arnold might find himself cursing his luck that Tuchel is heading through the door.

The German’s unconfined love for James is obvious but he also once tried to sign City’s Kyle Walker for Bayern Munich and is believed to rate the veteran highly.

Trent Alexander-Arnold might find himself cursing his luck that Tuchel has taken up the role

But, with Tuchel, it’s his way or der Autobahn and the new boss might fancy sticking some of his favourites on the right-hand side

Could Alexander-Arnold find himself third in the pecking order once again?

The Liverpool man has been the stand-out performer during Carsley’s brief spell in charge, replicating his Anfield form at last.

But, with Tuchel, it’s his way or der Autobahn and the new boss might fancy sticking some of his favourites on the right-hand side.

Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White (and others…)

Lee Carsley might have only been in charge for four matches but he made some radical changes to an England setup which needed a shake-up.

Unsurprisingly, the interim boss brought in some old friends from the under-21s side he took to Euros glory in 2023.

Chief among them is Angel Gomes who has impressed in his handful of appearances over the last month or so. 

Angel Gomes has impressed in his handful of appearances over the last month or so

Along with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Gomes faces a setback following Tuchel’s arrival

The diminuitive Lille midfielder is full of energy and creative through balls and seemed to be making the box-to-box role his own.

Along with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Rico Lewis, Gomes faces a setback following Tuchel’s arrival as others get the gift of favouritism in their stead.

But it is in contrast to Southgate’s era that the German is likely to position himself and, if the youngsters impress, the new boss will throw them into his new-look England team.