England’s new manager Thomas Tuchel says he will ‘start learning’ national anthem
Thomas Tuchel has told Sky News he will “start learning” the national anthem following questions over whether he will sing it before England games.
The 51-year-old German, who has been officially unveiled as the Three Lions’ new head coach, told a news conference he had not yet made up his mind over the issue.
However, speaking afterwards with Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris, Tuchel said: “I will absolutely start learning it.
“I experienced it three times here at Wembley in the cup finals two or three times – it was very moving. I don’t want to offend people.”
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Tuchel’s answer on singing anthem
He added: “I will now get a feeling for it, what people think, and what the atmosphere is for that, and take my decision but it will not change my approach on how much I will work in my dream to make it happen.”
It comes following a row over current interim manager Lee Carsley, who represented Ireland as a player, after he announced he would not sing God Save The King before Three Lions matches.
Following questions from journalists at an earlier news conference, Tuchel said: “I will take a little bit of time for this decision.”
The Football Association revealed during the briefing on Wednesday that it had considered around 10 candidates for the role, which Tuchel will take up in 2025.
The governing body’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We interviewed approximately 10 people, we interviewed some English candidates within that. You wouldn’t expect me to divulge any more than that.”
When asked if any of them turned down the opportunity, Mr Bullingham replied: “Clearly some were more up for the role than others. But we were absolutely delighted to end up with Thomas.”
Mr Bullingham added: “We believe he gives us the best chance of winning the World Cup so we believe we got the best candidate for the job.”
Thomas Tuchel was all smiles at the news conference. Pic: PA
Before taking the England job, Tuchel had been strongly linked with Manchester United, whose manager Erik ten Hag is under pressure.
Asked about those reports and why he chose England specifically, Tuchel said: “The idea and the way Mark (Bullingham) and John (McDermott, the FA’s technical director) presented it was very fast, very exciting, very confidential and trustful.
“It was very straightforward. This was a decision for this job and not a decision against anyone else.
“I will not comment on any other clubs.”
Tuchel launches charm offensive – but performances on the pitch will matter most
Facing hostility and hysteria comes with the territory – even for English managers of England.
So all Thomas Tuchel could attempt was a charm offensive at his Wembley unveiling – flaunting the shirt on the pitch.
There was the prepared and much-repeated line about dreaming of putting a second star on the shirt by winning the 2026 World Cup.
And talking up his affection for England and football here.
The German claimed to have been spared sight of the Daily Mail back page headline that greeted his appointment as a “dark day for England” – harking back to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s appointment in 2000 being decried as “selling our birthright”.
Unlike Eriksson and Fabio Capello before him, this third foreign manager of the Three Lions has actually coached here.
Tuchel won’t want to dwell on how short that spell was – lasting just 15 months at Chelsea — but instead on the turnaround and rapid success.
Although it is the lesser-regarded Club World Cup on his CV, winning any form of senior World Cup has not been achieved by an England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966.
But the mission to end 58 years of hurt is not just about tactically transforming the team.
It is about a connection with the fans where symbolism can become a fixation – and the team can be used to gauge the parading of patriotism.
“I will absolutely start learning it [the national anthem],” Tuchel told Sky News, remembering it being played at Wembley cup finals when he was in charge at Chelsea.
“It was very moving, but I haven’t taken my decision yet if I will sing it or not. I have a bit of time for that.
“And even with the decision, I do not want to offend people. I’ll get a feeling for it, what people think and what the atmosphere is for that.”
Even the fear of offending shows how much of this job can be treading on eggshells – where oddities, absurdities and controversies can distract from the main job.
Tuchel said he was convinced to take the job because it was about football “not sport politics”.
That could be wishful thinking after Gareth Southgate had to navigate everything from Brexit to human rights – while still leading England to back-to-back European Championship finals.
Ultimately for Tuchel it is about how to get the team over the line to land silverware.
“We believe that we have everything that it takes,” Tuchel said. “But it is on us now to find the right ingredients and to build the right group with the right mindset to make it happen.”
And Tuchel has demonstrated the mindset and determination to rise from coaching in the lower leagues in Germany to one of the biggest jobs in world football.
He talked a good game today. From March, on the pitch, he will have to start delivering.
In an earlier video message to fans, Tuchel said he was aiming for a “second star” on England’s shirt – which can only be achieved by winning the World Cup.
Speaking from Wembley Stadium, the former Chelsea boss said: “I’m quite a bit nervous, this is my first message as England head coach.
“There is a reason to be a bit nervous, I think it is a good thing. I can promise I am very excited and very honoured.
“We will do everything to qualify for the World Cup and then try to get the second star on our shirt.”
Read more:
What we know about England’s new manager
As it happened: Tuchel news conference live
Tuchel signs England manager deal
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New England boss shares message with fans
Tuchel also said he hoped to win over sceptical fans who believe the Three Lions should only be managed by an Englishman.
He said: “I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country… no matter what [my] national passport says I am.”
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German fans react to Tuchel appointment
Tuchel said he believed the England men’s team had the “ingredients” to win their first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
He also declined to say if Harry Kane, who he managed at Bayern Munich, will remain England captain, saying it was “too early to answer these kinds of questions”.
Tuchel’s contract lasts for 18 months and was signed last Tuesday, the FA also revealed.
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Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31.
The singer was in Argentina when he was found dead by police.
How did Payne die?
Local police said Payne had fallen from the third floor of a hotel in the capital Buenos Aires on Wednesday evening.
He is said to have suffered “extremely serious injuries”.
Alberto Crescenti, head of the state emergency medical system, said on Argentinian television that Payne fell into a courtyard of the CasaSur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighbourhood.
He declined to answer further questions about the incident, including whether Payne jumped from the balcony or fell by accident.
Pablo Policicchio, a spokesperson for the security ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, said police were called to the hotel in response to an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.
Tributes as Payne found dead at hotel – follow latest
A forensic technician at the scene. Pic: Reuters
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Fans gather outside the hotel where Liam Payne died
Payne’s social media post hours before death
Payne had posted on Snapchat in the last few hours, and in one video he said it was a “lovely day here in Argentina”.
“Just enjoying coffee and breakfast, even though it’s like 1pm,” he said. “Literally sleep in every day until like 12. We’re such losers.”
Liam Payne posted on his Snapchat hours before his death. Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
The star spoke about “going to ride some horses” and said: “Think I’m going to play polo again which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.”
“It’s going to be a nice day,” he added.
It was not clear when the videos were filmed, but were posted hours before his death.
Why was Payne in Argentina?
Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
Payne at Niall Horan’s concert in Argentina. Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
Pic: Payne and his girlfriend at the concert. Snapchat/Liam Payne
He was seen dancing at his show two weeks ago at the Movistar Arena alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
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Former One Direction star Liam Payne was posting on Snapchat just hours before his death in Buenos Aires.
The 31-year-old singer died outside a hotel in Argentina’s capital, after falling from the third floor of a hotel, police said.
On Snapchat, he spoke to his followers about his plans for one of his days on holiday, saying it was a “lovely day in Argentina” and he planned to play polo.
The videos appear to be posted days after they were filmed, as they feature Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy, who uploaded videos of her return to Florida on social media earlier in the week.
Payne posting on his Snapchat story. Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
“Today, we ride. We’re going to ride some horses,” he said, in one of the videos.
“Think I’m going to play polo again, which is going to put me out of action for about six weeks.
“It’s so hard to do, number one, my back and my neck from swinging that hammer around… or mallet, I think it’s called if you’re in the know.
“It hurts a lot, it’s very tough to do.”
Read more:
What we know so far
In one post on his Snapchat story, Payne said he was ‘happy I got some time away’. Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
He also gave his followers a tour of the room he was staying in with Cassidy, who he has been dating since October 2022.
Latest updates: Former One Direction star found dead at hotel
“Haha, loser, weirdo,” he joked with her about the fact she was leaving Argentina.
“Obviously, we’re going to go home and see our dog,” he said.
The pair recently fostered a dog called Nala who they’ve nicknamed Noonie, Chooch, Narls and Choochie, according to the videos.
Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
Payne and Cassidy said they’d been having lie-ins every morning, and the singer told his followers they were enjoying coffee and breakfast, “even though it’s like 1pm”.
“We literally sleep in every day until like 12,” Cassidy said in the background.
“We’re such losers,” she said.
The star posted pictures of the food they’d been having on holiday. Pic: Snapchat/Liam Payne
The singer finished his update on Snapchat by sharing some of the “amazing” art in their room.
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“On occasion I do paint and I like doing art,” he said, but admitted he’d not found more art he was “in love with” except for a picture hanging on the wall.
“They’ve got the most amazing art in this house,” he said.
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