England boss Thomas Tuchel has played down his side’s chances of breaking their, what will be, 60-year World Cup duck in next year’s tournament.
Tuchel, 52, has overseen five wins in his opening six fixtures as England boss since he took over from Gareth Southgate in January this year, losing just to Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in the summer.
While the wait for a second major trophy continues for the Three Lions, under Southgate the side became much more competitive by reaching consecutive European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
However, Tuchel believes it is their struggles to get over the line in major finals that leaves them still brandished with an “underdog” title.
This is despite England’s perfect record in World Cup qualifying so far, having not even conceded a goal. In fact, England could qualify for the tournament as early as Tuesday if they beat Latvia in Riga.
Tuchel, though, chose to remain pessimistic - or somewhat realistic - about England’s chances in the US, Canada and Mexico next year.
Thomas Tuchel has placed a huge impetus on squad cohesion ahead of the World Cup next year
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Speaking ahead of his side’s fixture against Wales tonight, the German said: "We will arrive as underdogs in the World Cup because we haven't won it for decades.
“We will play against teams who have repeatedly won it during that time, so we need to arrive as a team otherwise, we have no chance.
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England beat Serbia 5-0 in their most recent fixture last month
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“If you've never won Wimbledon, you may be one of the favourites but you are not the favourite.
“You can go and if you come close, OK, you are within the pool, but you are not the favourite. It is just how it is.
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“There is Brazil, there is Argentina, Spain, France, and they just did it recently.
“It doesn't mean we have no chance and we know very well. First, we will qualify and then we will know exactly why we go there."
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England boss Thomas Tuchel believes England have 'no chance' unless they turn up next summer as a team
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Tuchel’s disparity with Southgate over squad selection is clear: the former Chelsea boss prioritises a more stable squad, in a bid to create a stronger and more consistent morale within the group.
His squad for the upcoming fixtures against Wales and Latvia saw only three changes; the injured duo of Tino Livramento and Noni Madueke were replaced, while Adam Wharton, who pulled out of September’s squad, was replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Bukayo Saka has returned to the England squad in place of the injured Noni Madueke
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Controversially, the German overlooked Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden - both of whom did not feature in the September squad - in a bid to maintain a strong squad ethos.
Tuchel believes the team spirit and “cohesion” are crucial for international success, adding: "We try to collect the guys who, in the end, have the glue and cohesion to be the best team, because we need to arrive [at the World Cup] with the best team.
“Let's go step by step and it just buys into the other step. We build a team that is ready to go step by step and play as a team, and hopefully no one wants to play against us.
“When I hear people talking about their titles in international football or their missed chances, I hear always the same song: we have been a team or we haven't been a team. It is always the same song in international football.
“I also think it is the same headline in club football, but even more if you stick together 24/7 for a nine-day period, and then, as long as possible in America, you have to be a group, you have to be a strong group."