Wenger names his favourites for 2026 and judges England’s chances

December 5, 2025 Oliver Obel

Southgate’s departure followed England’s Euro 2024 defeat to Spain, a result that reopened long-standing debates about the team’s psychological ceiling.

England have now reached a semifinal or better in three of their last five major tournaments but remain without a trophy since 1966 a drought that has defined every managerial transition of the past two decades.

Tuchel’s appointment initially met with hesitation from some fans wary of another overseas coach has quickly taken on a more convincing tone.

According to GOAL’s reporting, England completed qualifying with eight wins from eight and no goals conceded, becoming the only UEFA nation in this cycle to post a perfect defensive record. Their performances were not uniformly electric, but a 5–0 win over Serbia hinted at the higher technical and tactical ceiling Tuchel’s system might unlock.

Inside the squad, several players have privately described the training intensity as “different” from what they were used to under previous regimes, according to multiple British reports, suggesting the adjustment has been as demanding as it is energising.

How Europe sees the contenders

Arsène Wenger, speaking in comments cited by GOAL, placed England among the genuine favourites, noting they “have the quality to win” after years of falling narrowly short. But he also issued a caveat that has echoed throughout France and Germany: the benchmark remains Les Bleus.

Wenger pointed to France’s unmatched depth in forward positions Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Désiré Doué, Hugo Ekitike as the clearest dividing line between the two contenders.

France’s abundance of attacking options not only raises their talent ceiling but gives Didier Deschamps tactical flexibility England have often lacked: multiple pressing structures, counterattacking setups, and changes of shape without losing firepower.

As a result, while England are considered improved, France still enter the summer as the team the rest of the field must find a way to disrupt.

A U.S. perspective on England’s rise

The World Cup’s return to American soil has added a different flavour to discussions across the Atlantic. Former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, speaking to GOAL, praised England’s growth under Tuchel but joked that an English triumph during the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations would be an outcome Americans “cannot have.”

His comments, lighthearted as they were, reflected how England’s global reputation has shifted from perennial disappointment to legitimate threat.

Optimism with a counterweight

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham recently described Tuchel’s early impact as a “brilliant” burst of energy, saying players have responded quickly to his approach. Yet not everyone within the English game is entirely convinced.

Several Premier League analysts have raised concerns about England’s attacking fluency in tight matches, noting that their qualifying clean sheet record impressive as it is came against opponents who rarely offered sustained pressure.

There is also the reality that England have produced strong qualifying campaigns before; historically, their biggest stumbles occur not in the buildup but under the weight of knockout-stage expectation.

Draw first, answers later

As the group-stage draw approaches, England’s status feels paradoxical: a team both transformed and unproven. Tuchel has sharpened the structure, raised training standards, and delivered flawless results on paper.

What he has not yet had is the stage that has undone every England generation since the 1990s a high-stakes knockout match against an elite opponent.

This summer will reveal whether England's immaculate qualifying run is a sign of real evolution or just another chapter in a familiar story of promise meeting pressure.

Sources: GOAL, Reuters, AP, BBC.