Cole Backs Tuchel's "Brave" World Cup Gamble: England Boss Won't Play Ball with the Press Box

Thomas Tuchel has earned rare praise from Joe Cole for having the backbone to stand firm on his 2026 World Cup squad selections, refusing to be swayed by the inevitable outcry from the press and punditry ranks.

The England manager's 26-man squad announcement last month sparked considerable debate, particularly around three glaring omissions from the attacking midfielder ranks. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White all found themselves on the outside looking in—a trio of talented attacking options that would have quietened the noise considerably had Tuchel simply picked them.

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold also missed the cut, while the inclusions of Ivan Toney, Djed Spence and Jordan Henderson raised further eyebrows across the football community.

Speaking exclusively, Cole laid out why he's genuinely impressed with Tuchel's approach, even if he wouldn't have made identical choices himself. "You could ask ten ex-footballers and ten fans to build a 26-man squad and get thirty different answers," Cole explained. "There's always going to be debate."

But what matters to Cole is that Tuchel has picked his squad on merit and conviction rather than capitulating to media pressure. "He's picked his team, he's not bent for the media," Cole stated. "He's stuck to his guns. Yes, he could have easily selected Palmer, Foden or Gibbs-White and there'd be far less discussion, but that's not his way."

The former Chelsea winger, who earned 56 England caps between 2001 and 2010, acknowledged that leaving out all three number tens represents a bold tactical statement. Tuchel's squad prioritises speed, strength and physicality—hallmarks of his preferred playing style. It sends a clear roadmap to the players about how England intends to operate in North America.

Questions persist about whether creativity in midfield could become a vulnerability. Cole addressed this head-on, pointing to historical precedent. "Germany reached the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil without being particularly possession-heavy," he noted. "They operated on a counter-attacking model, and European sides can certainly win major tournaments without dominating the ball."

What Cole respects most is Tuchel's refusal to compromise his vision for public relations. Previous England managers have been guilty of selecting players to keep the press satisfied, he suggested. Tuchel isn't one of them. His authority is evident, and the squad appears harmonious and united behind his direction.

The German's pedigree certainly speaks for itself—eleven major trophies across stints at Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Dortmund. Yet Cole cautioned against assuming trophy cabinets guarantee success. "Fabio Capello had an outstanding record winning competitions, and it didn't translate to England," he reminded.

What sets Tuchel apart, according to Cole, is his winning mentality combined with his ability to establish control while maintaining squad harmony. "He's a winner, and the players know who's boss," Cole said. "That's precisely what you need."

England's World Cup preparations have progressed smoothly, with convincing victories over New Zealand (1-0) and Costa Rica (3-0) in warm-up fixtures. The Three Lions face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, with all matches staged on American soil.

Cole's verdict? Back the manager now. Tuchel has earned that trust through his decisiveness and clarity of purpose.