As England prepare for a new tactical era under Thomas Tuchel, attention is turning sharply to how the German will solve the national team’s ongoing defensive conundrums.
While Tuchel’s past success has rested on structured defensive systems, his options for England bring both promise and pressure.
With a wealth of talent but a lack of clear hierarchy at the back, several players are fighting for their international futures at a time when cohesion and passing consistency will matter more than ever.
Defensive Hierarchy Still in Flux
Tuchel has built his reputation on organising compact, possession-based defences, most famously with Chelsea’s back three during their 2021 Champions League run.
Replicating that success with England, however, presents complications.
Southgate’s long-standing mix of back threes and fours has left no permanent solution, and the choices now must be tactical rather than sentimental.
This unsettled defensive setup has led fans to actively speculate on betting platforms.
When looking for odds on team performance and tournament outcomes, many fans opt for platforms with no ID verification.
These platforms offer convenience and immediacy, allowing users to place bets without delays tied to lengthy verification processes.
With Tuchel’s uncertain defensive partnerships, odds around clean sheets or back-line combinations are especially constantly shifting.
Until Tuchel establishes a stable defensive core, bookmakers catering to rapid, low-friction betting will continue to adjust their lines in real-time.
Questions Around Leadership and Fitness
The absence of Harry Maguire due to injury opens the door for new leadership at the back.
Despite criticism over his form at club level, Maguire has been a mainstay for England, offering experience and aerial presence.
Without him, Tuchel must weigh experience versus mobility.
John Stones remains a central figure, assuming he recovers full match sharpness after a season disrupted by injuries.
He is arguably the only centre-back in the current pool who ticks both composure and ball-playing quality.
Yet even he looked vulnerable in Manchester City’s rare off-days, showing how fragile form can be in high-stakes systems.
Behind Stones, there’s a list of contenders who each carry asterisks:
- Lewis Dunk (Brighton): Excellent passer, but has not yet convinced in international matches.
- Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa): Aggressive defender, may suit a back three but prone to lapses when stretched.
- Joe Gomez (Liverpool): Versatile but injury-prone and rarely played centrally last season.
These choices suggest that Tuchel’s selection may not be based solely on form or reputation but on how well each defender fits into a high line or covers wide spaces in transitions.
Full-Back Roles Still Unsettled
Left-back remains one of the biggest question marks.
Luke Shaw’s latest injury setback casts serious doubt over his readiness, leaving Tuchel with limited like-for-like replacements.
Kieran Trippier can play there, though it restricts width and reduces left-footed balance.
Ben Chilwell’s limited minutes for Chelsea make his selection difficult to justify.
At right-back, England are better stocked, but that can bring its own problems.
Kyle Walker is still reliable in defensive phases, while Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to divide opinion.
Tuchel could deploy him in a hybrid midfield role, but whether that works against elite pressing sides is up for debate.
Reece James, though a Tuchel favourite at Chelsea, is also coming off a long injury layoff and may not be fully fit.
Tuchel will want to avoid selecting players who can’t sustain tournament-level intensity, particularly in wide areas where tracking runners and maintaining shape are constant demands.
Tactical Shape: Three or Four?
One of the first major calls Tuchel must make is the overall shape of the defence.
Will he opt for the stability of a back three, or go with a more progressive 4-3-3?
A back three would allow the inclusion of players like Konsa or Dunk without exposing them too much in one-on-one situations.
It also allows England’s full-backs to push forward, something that suits Trippier and Alexander-Arnold.
A back four, however, would demand more compactness and sharper transitions.
That setup would favour a Stones-Guéhi or Stones-Dunk partnership, banking on one of them to control the tempo from deep while the other sweeps.
Either way, England’s defenders need to handle not just physical duels but tactical ones: knowing when to step out, when to recycle, and when to play direct.
Against teams who press hard and fast, poor decisions at the back can unravel entire game plans.
The Wild Card: Tactical Flexibility
Tuchel’s real edge may come from unpredictability.
He has shown a willingness in club football to adapt game by game, sometimes even mid-match.
That sort of fluidity hasn’t been England’s hallmark in recent years, but it might be the key to getting the best out of a group with no undisputed defensive leaders.
He could, for example, start with a back three against stronger opponents, then shift to a four when chasing a lead.
Players like Walker and Stones allow this kind of flexibility, but the rest of the defensive unit will need to show they can adapt without losing discipline.
England’s attacking talents often draw the headlines, but it’s what happens at the back, how they set up, who steps up, and who keeps their nerve, that could decide their fate under Tuchel.
The balance between risk and control has rarely been so finely poised.
