England's Tuchel Deal Settles Manchester United Speculation – But Media Still Finding Reasons to Fret

The Kit Controversy Nobody Asked For

Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Brentford on Thursday evening has already been overshadowed by something far more pressing: the colour of their shorts.

The Gunners turned out in their blue away strip paired with pale grey shorts and socks rather than their customary black combination, a change mandated by Premier League rules to avoid a kit clash. Simple enough. Except certain corners of the media have treated it as a matter of national concern.

One outlet deemed it worthy of a headline about Arsenal being "forced into major kit change," complete with outrage from social media users demanding a 12-point deduction. Never mind that Arsenal wore identical grey shorts earlier this season against Athletic Club, or that the change was entirely procedural. The fact that someone with fewer than 1,000 followers and Aston Villa leanings expressed displeasure was apparently sufficient grounds for extensive coverage.

This is the state of football journalism in 2026.

Tuchel's Contract Extension Divides Opinion

Thomas Tuchel's contract extension through to Euro 2028 has proven far more divisive, though perhaps for more legitimate reasons.

The England manager's deal has prompted familiar hand-wringing about past failures, with various commentators drawing parallels to Fabio Capello's situation before the 2010 World Cup. One BBC Sport writer termed it "a cautionary tale," while a Telegraph journalist labelled it a "cop-out" from the FA – a curious choice of words for an arrangement that actually commits both parties to a defined course of action.

A Sun columnist questioned the timing and resurrected old grievances about the Jude Bellingham "repulsive" incident, which Tuchel addressed and apologised for long ago. Yet the same piece acknowledged that break clauses are now standard practice and that securing Tuchel's future eliminates World Cup distractions – arguments that rather undermine the original complaint.

The Manchester United Question

A Daily Mirror columnist asked what had fundamentally changed since Tuchel's initial appointment. The answer, rather obviously, involves the managerial situations at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Tottenham and potentially Manchester City beyond the summer.

Curiously, this same writer had urged Manchester United to "act now" just one month earlier, warning that the FA would be unhappy if United approached Tuchel during the World Cup build-up. Now he's criticising the FA for taking steps to prevent exactly that scenario. One might wonder whether the issue is the decision itself or simply having to ask a different question at press conferences.

As multiple sensible observers have noted, modern contracts routinely include break clauses. The FA has protected England's interests while allowing Tuchel security – hardly the disaster some are portraying.

Nations League Draw: The "Nightmare" That Isn't

England's Nations League group draw against Spain, Croatia and Czechia has been branded both "brutal" and a "nightmare" by one outlet. They're all capable sides, which is precisely how League A works. That's rather the entire concept.

The real curiosity lies in the resurrection of Croatia as England's supposed "bogey team." England have won one of their last six meetings with the side, including victories at Euro 2021 and in the Nations League following their 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat. The "bogey" label feels distinctly 2007.

The Van Dijk Non-Story

Finally, one headline announced that Virgil van Dijk "may never play for club again" – a curious formulation that conflates his desire for Liverpool to retain Ibrahima Konate with Wataru Endo's potential season-ending injury and rumoured summer departure. The wording suggests a catastrophe where none exists, linking two entirely separate stories through creative headline construction. One imagines a swift correction is forthcoming.