Football
German Media Poke Fun At England Over Thomas Tuchel Appointment – “Only A German Can Help Now”
Cai is a news and features writer that specialises in football, but has experience covering a variety of other sports, including darts, basketball, American football, MMA, boxing and more. He holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby, and worked with Nottingham Forest FC and Burton Albion FC throughout his studies. Cai also has experience working in social media with the Football Association of Wales, where he worked on a freelance basis, and has also been an accredited writer in the JD Cymru Premier for both Y Clwb Pêl-Droed and welshfootie since the 2019/20 season.
Get to know Cai Parry betterPublished17 Oct 2024
German media outlets have reacted to the FA’s appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new permanent England manager, with Bild poking fun at the Three Lions, claiming that ‘only a German can help now’.
The Football Association officially confirmed the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new permanent England manager on Wednesday, and while the reaction has largely been positive, questions have been raised over the acquisition of an international manager.
Tuchel, who has penned an 18-month deal to become the Three Lions’ new coach, becomes the third non-British permanent England manager, following in the footsteps of Fabio Capello and the late Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Former England international and ex-assistant manager Gary Neville questioned what the German’s arrival means for English coaching, but itted that the 51-year-old is ‘probably the best available coach in the world’ right now.
Certain of the German media, meanwhile, greeted England’s appointment of Tuchel by poking fun at the Three Lions, stating that ‘only a German can help now’ as they close in on 60 years without a major trophy.
German Media On Tuchel To England: “Only A German Can Help Now”
News outlet Bild wrote: “The motherland of football gets a German dad. Madness!
“Since 1966 – 1966!!!! – the proud football nation has been waiting for a trophy (and sorry, even the World Cup victory only happened because the referee made a mistake). It will soon be 60 years without a title. In that time, we’ve won the World Cup three times and the European Championship three times. Oops.
“The despair on the island must be immense if they realise only a German can help now. What a tribute to Tuchel and German football that the English are jumping over their shadows despite the huge rivalry.”
Another German newspaper, Der Spiegel, meanwhile, praised the move and backed Tuchel to bring an end to the Three Lions’ trophy drought.
“English football is more globalised than German football, the clubs are often in the hands of foreign owners and they employ the best coaches in the industry,” they wrote.
“Recently, they have rarely come from Great Britain. The only current Premier League coach at a club with European Cup ambitions is Newcastle’s Eddie Howe. He is yet to win a major title. And that is exactly what the English FA is all about – end their drought since their World Cup success in 1966. Tuchel can be trusted to do that.”
Tuchel is due to start in his role on 1 January 2025 ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign, taking over from interim manager Lee Carsley, who is set to return to England’s Under-21 side.