Wilshere: Tuchel factor can help England win the World Cup

Jack Wilshere knows what it feels like to carry the weight of England’s World Cup dreams. In 2014, he was part of a squad that crumbled under the suffocating pressure of expectation, exiting at the group stage in Brazil with barely a whimper. Now, as a manager himself with Luton Town, Wilshere sees a different England—one that could finally end the 60-year trophy drought. The difference? Thomas Tuchel.

A manager who doesn’t feel the weight

Wilshere’s argument hinges on Tuchel’s detachment from the emotional maelstrom that often engulfs England. When the German replaced Gareth Southgate, critics questioned whether a foreign coach could truly grasp the nation’s psyche. Wilshere dismisses that concern outright.

“There were a lot of question marks when Thomas got the job. People were saying, ‘Oh, the English manager should be English,’” he told Sky Sports. “I think Gareth Southgate did a fantastic job of bringing everyone together. But actually, if you’re an English person, you feel that same pressure.”

Wilshere’s own experience in 2014 taught him how paralysing that pressure can be. The midfielder, then at Arsenal, felt the squad buckle under the burden of history. Tuchel, by contrast, appears immune to it. His half-time intervention against Croatia in England’s opening game—when a lacklustre first half gave way to a 4-2 comeback—was a masterclass in psychological reset. “You had a manager who had gone in at half-time and said, ‘Yeah, I understand all that, but this is how we’re going to win that game, forget all that expectation, forget all that pressure,’” Wilshere said.

Players who can execute the plan

Tuchel’s tactical nous is only half the equation. The other is whether England have the players to execute his vision under pressure. Wilshere believes they do, pointing to the squad’s collective resilience as a key differentiator from past failures.

“There will be tougher tests, for sure,” he acknowledged. “Tougher tests in opposition, and tougher…” His point is clear: this England side is built to handle the heat. The opening victory over Croatia, built on a second-half surge, offered a glimpse of what’s possible when belief replaces doubt. Wilshere’s emphasis on “forget all that expectation” underscores a fundamental shift—one where the players, not the burden, dictate the narrative.

Whether that translates into a World Cup triumph remains to be seen, but the early signs are promising. Tuchel’s appointment has already recalibrated the squad’s mindset, and Wilshere’s endorsement carries weight given his own battles with the same pressures.

The tactical edge: flexibility under fire

Tuchel’s approach isn’t just about mental fortitude; it’s about tactical adaptability. The Croatia win demonstrated his willingness to adjust mid-game, a trait Wilshere highlights as crucial for tournament football. England’s first-half fragility—”we didn’t look that comfortable or that confident”—was addressed with a clear plan: press higher, attack with intent, and refuse to be cowed by the occasion.

This is where Tuchel’s Champions League pedigree matters. His experience in high-stakes knockout football—winning the trophy with Chelsea in 2021—gives him a template for navigating the knockout stages. Wilshere’s faith in the squad’s ability to “execute” under Tuchel’s guidance suggests England may finally have the right blend of structure and swagger.

England’s World Cup campaign is still in its infancy, but Wilshere’s words carry the ring of conviction. He’s seen the best and worst of what this tournament can do to a team, and he believes this group is different—not because of blind optimism, but because of a manager who refuses to let the weight of history dictate the outcome. If Tuchel can keep instilling that mindset, England might just end their 1966 wait.