Thomas Tuchel employs an 'unconventional tactic' for the England national team

Coach Thomas Tuchel is refreshing the England team by reintroducing long throw-ins and aerial tactics. With the expertise of assistant Anthony Barry, a throw-in analyst, England is expected to be more practical and threatening at the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel openly aims to transform England into a team that is both solid and pragmatic, ready to use “tricks” that seem forgotten. He believes modern football is not only about control and elegant short passes but also requires flexibility in attacking the opponent’s goal. Tuchel even compares long throw-ins and second balls to a “shortcut” to make a difference in tight matches.

After taking charge of the team in early 2025, the German coach quickly introduced a more direct football philosophy, moving away from the familiar possession style. Tuchel emphasized: “I have already said – long throw-ins are back."In the recent 2-0 win over Andorra, both goals came from aerial crosses, highlighting a clear change in approach. Beyond throw-ins, Tuchel also encourages his players to take long free kicks into the box instead of short build-ups.

He explains that scoring chances increase when the ball is genuinely delivered into dangerous areas. “It may not look pretty, but second balls or rebounds are just as valuable as tiki-taka or spectacular shots,” Tuchel shared. For him, effectiveness is key, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching fast.

England currently needs only one point from the remaining four qualifiers to secure their spot. However, Tuchel warns against complacency. He stresses the team must prepare for various attacking scenarios, including throw-ins, long balls from the goalkeeper, and wing crosses.

Interestingly, Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, is highly knowledgeable about throw-ins. In his thesis, Barry analyzed over 16,000 throw-in situations in the 2018/19 Premier League season, totaling 60 hours of footage. One notable conclusion was that sideways or backward throw-ins have a higher success rate than those thrown straight forward. With this insight, Barry promises to be a vital aide in turning long throw-ins into a formidable weapon for England.