Guehi urges England to take collective responsibility ahead of USA World Cup

Marc Guehi has challenged England’s players to take ownership of their own belief ahead of this summer’s World Cup in the United States, insisting that no manager or outside influence can substitute for conviction on the pitch.

“We’re the ones who are responsible, we’re the ones playing so it’s a collective effort,” the Crystal Palace centre-back said. “As long as we have that belief, good things can happen. But we’ll see.”

Guehi, who established himself as one of England’s most reliable defenders during Euro 2024 in Germany, spoke warmly of the squad’s current mood under Thomas Tuchel. “We’ve got fantastic players, really good team spirit within the squad with so many different elements as well as so many new faces,” he said. “It’s a well balanced team as well so hopefully we can do something special.”

On whether England can go all the way, Guehi was candid. “Can we win it? Only God knows. Honestly. But I know we can control what we can control and that’s approaching each day working hard, making sure we’re ready for the competition.”

His emergence at the Euros was all the more remarkable given the circumstances leading up to it. Guehi had suffered a knee injury shortly before the tournament and was not certain he would even make the squad. He ultimately played a central role in England’s run to the final, where they lost to Spain.

“It was definitely enjoyable to be on that ride. It obviously didn’t end the way we wanted it to but to be a part of that journey was something special,” he said. “I’m grateful but I look back on those moments and remember that I didn’t even plan to be there in the first place because I was coming off the back of a knee injury.”

Guehi credited his mindset for helping him perform under pressure, drawing a distinction between nerves and fear. “I went there to enjoy it, I enjoyed it and didn’t put any pressure on myself,” he said. “I think nerves are a normal part of football but fear… there’s no time to have fear on the football pitch. Fear definitely holds you back in so many different ways.”

The lesson he is carrying into the World Cup is straightforward: embrace the moment rather than be paralysed by it. “It’s not guaranteed that you have these moments,” he added — a reminder, perhaps aimed as much at his teammates as at himself.