Tuchel Aims to Innovate with Game-Changing Substitutions

Thomas Tuchel has proposed an unprecedented strategy for the national team: keeping substitutes in the locker room. Concerned about the extreme heat expected in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the new England manager is seriously considering not placing his bench by the sidelines when temperatures exceed certain thresholds deemed unsafe. In an interview with the BBC, the German mentioned that he is contemplating this option to maintain his players’ freshness and improve their performance when they enter the game: “If this can help us perform better at the end of the match, we need to consider it. Nobody likes it; I prefer having everyone beside me to feel the group’s energy, but I’ve seen teams do it during the Club World Cup. I hope we don’t need to go that far, but we may need to adapt.”

Tuchel, who took charge of the England team on January 1, 2025, and is preparing for his first major international tournament, emphasizes the need to anticipate these environmental challenges. “We can’t play the same football at 45 degrees as we do at 21 degrees,” he pointed out. The former PSG coach assures that his staff is already working on various protocols, including acclimatization, humidity management, and cooling systems. However, beyond the medical and tactical aspects, Tuchel stresses a crucial point: “It will be hot, there will be lots of travel, delays, thunderstorms… The key is the mindset. We must be ready to accept difficulties rather than seeking a perfect solution before they arise.” The message is clear.