Tuchel declares his heart beats for England despite Germany also reaching World Cup last-32

Thomas Tuchel insisted his loyalties lie firmly with England after the Three Lions beat Panama 2-0 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Saturday to advance to the World Cup last-32 as Group L winners.

Jude Bellingham was the architect of the victory, the 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder scoring before teeing up Harry Kane to seal the result — England’s first goals after three goalless halves at the tournament.

With Germany also through to the knockout stages following wins over Curacao and Ivory Coast, Tuchel was pressed in his post-match press conference on where his allegiances lay.

“I follow the German team, of course, but my focus and my heart beats for the England national team in this World Cup, so that’s where my focus is,” the 52-year-old said. “They have a top coach and a top team. They find solutions for themselves.”

Tuchel’s German nationality drew scrutiny when he was first appointed, but he has consistently played down its significance. “The biggest con is I don’t have an English passport but that’s maybe it,” he said. “That was clear from the beginning. I love to be the England coach and I was never shy about that. I have huge affection for the country and for the people in the country and the way they approach football and sports in general.”

The former Chelsea manager, who guided the club to Champions League glory in 2021, has spoken previously about how his time in England shaped his desire to return. “I fell in love with the country and the Premier League. That was a dream, to work there. Now to have the chance to work with these kind of players is an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful for it. No one wants it more than me.”

Tuchel also reflected on the challenge Panama posed, drawing comparisons with earlier Group L opponents. “We saw a team who didn’t allow any chances in the first two matches. They conceded a 95th-minute counter attack against Ghana. They conceded from a half chance against Croatia with two shots on target. There is no problem if these matches feel tight and tough — it will help us in the next match.”