Tuchel issues Cristiano Ronaldo warning as England boss reveals he’s already scolded Djed Spence over Tottenham behaviour
Thomas Tuchel is cautioning his England squad to exercise restraint and avoid a fate similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s, where rash actions could lead to a premature exit from the field against Albania this Sunday.
The Portugal captain’s dismissal in their recent 2-0 defeat to Ireland has not only sidelined him for their crucial World Cup qualifying clash against Armenia, but could also potentially bench him for Portugal’s opening match in the 2026 World Cup, should they secure qualification.
Despite the setback against Ireland, Portugal cling to the top spot in Group F, but their lead over Hungary in second place has been trimmed to a mere two points as they approach the final group fixtures.
The Portuguese national team will face Armenia in Porto shortly, needing a victory to definitively secure the group’s top positio, a task they’ll have to undertake without Ronaldo, who has been released from international duty following his sending-off.
Fortunately, England doesn’t find themselves in a comparable predicament, having already cemented their place as Group K winners ahead of their contest against Albania this evening.
The Three Lions have enjoyed a flawless qualifying campaign, securing victory in all seven of their matches, and are optimistic about concluding their campaign with a perfect record.
Trending
Nevertheless, Tuchel has indicated that he intends to advise his players to remain composed and avoid any unwise mistakes when they travel to Albania for their final group stage match.
Albania, having already secured a spot in the play-offs, will undoubtedly present a challenging opponent.
Looking forward to the upcoming match against Albania, Manager Tuchel emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and avoiding unnecessary penalties.
He acknowledged the need to address the team’s behavior, specifically urging players to steer clear of situations leading to red cards.
Tuchel stated that discussions would be held regarding this matter, making it clear that reckless fouls, particularly those involving last-man scenarios, should be avoided.
He suggested that players exercise caution and prioritize the team’s overall position, especially since qualification was already secured. In situations where a foul is questionable and carries a high risk of expulsion, he recommended refraining from the action altogether.
However, he also expressed his desire to not overemphasize the issue, fearing it could create undue pressure and hesitation among the players.
For the Albania game, Tuchel will be forced to make at least one alteration to the lineup. Defender Ezri Konsa is unavailable after sustaining a calf injury during the previous match against Serbia.
Despite completing the full match, Konsa has since returned to Aston Villa for further evaluation and treatment. Tuchel confirmed Konsa’s absence, citing the calf strain as the reason.
He also noted Konsa’s heavy workload for his club team, suggesting that a rest might have been beneficial regardless. Fortunately, according to Tuchel, the rest of the squad is fit and prepared for the contest.
In addition to addressing on-field conduct, Tuchel also revealed that he had spoken with defender Djed Spence regarding his conduct following a recent Tottenham Hotspur defeat to Chelsea.
Spence’s action of ignoring manager Thomas Frank and heading directly to the locker room alongside Micky van de Ven was not well received.
While Tuchel didn’t consider excluding Spence from the England squad due to the incident, he made it abundantly clear that he disapproved of Spence’s disrespectful behavior towards his club manager.
Tuchel stressed that players are representatives of the national team at all times, not just during training camps, and that maintaining a high standard of conduct is crucial.
He affirmed that he “didn’t care for” Spence’s behaviour and reiterated the importance of upholding professional standards both on and off the field.
Bellingham, Foden, and Eze are all strongly competing for a place in the starting lineup
With qualification already secured and a perfect group stage record the sole remaining objective, Tuchel might opt to reshuffle his lineup for the upcoming match.
Djed Spence is in contention for a starting role at full-back, while Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, and Trevoh Chalobah are all vying for the opportunity to fill in for Konsa in defense.
Furthermore, Adam Wharton, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Eberechi Eze are all eager to earn a place in the starting eleven for the match in Tirana.
The latter three players like Foden, and Eze are particularly hopeful, having come on as substitutes for Rogers, Kane, and Rashford respectively, in the previous game against Serbia.
Notably, it was the combination of Bellingham, Foden, and Eze that led to Eze’s decisive late goal, securing the victory after Saka’s earlier opener.
