“I think they’re totally different characters,” Harry Kane said last night, asked about Thomas and Gareth. “Just in their personalities, the way they are on the pitch, and probably off the pitch as well.
“Obviously I had a great relationship with Gareth … we were similar in a lot of ways … I think we were quite quiet and understanding, and we had a lot of conversations about things.
“With Thomas, I think he brings a lot more energy, enthusiasm … already this week on the training pitch and in the meetings … he brings a lot of passion when he’s talking.
“It’s been great. Obviously I saw a lot of it last season. He was a big reason I went to Bayern Munich in the first place. I know his attributes, and I know how a good a coach he is.
“I think all the boys have been impressed with him, and now we’re just excited to get out there and start the next chapter.”
England's Harry Kane (right) in training. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters
It’s still early, so how about a Nations League roundup from last night?
Spain snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against the 10 men of the Netherlands to secure a 2-2 draw on Thursday that kept up a two-year unbeaten streak
Aaron Ramsdale, Morgan Gibbs-White and Jarell Quansah have been told by Tuchel that they will not play any part for England against Albania tonight.
In other news, Scotland beat Greece 1-0 in the Nations League last night thanks to a penalty from Napoli midfield general Scott McTominay. Ewan Murray has the story:
Harry Kane: “I would say we were a little bit light on leadership in the summer. Especially when things are not going so well, or there’s a lot of noise around the camp, that’s when you need players like me and someone like Jordan [Henderson]. It’s great to have him. We complement each other very well in the way we lead.”
I’m sure there will be a few opinions on that. Why not email me?
Today is the first day of the rest of Thomas Tuchel’s life. He officially began his role as England head coach in January, but his team spring into action for the first time at Wembley this evening, against Albania in a Group K qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Tuchel has been brought in as an elite, gun-for-hire coach on an 18-month contract with a clear objective: winning that tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada next summer. As the old saying goes, you can’t win the World Cup in your first qualifier, but you can certainly produce an insipid performance that provokes a few days of teeth-gnashing from the media.
Alternatively, of course, you can also win handsomely and set an upbeat tone for a qualifying campaign – which would be handy because as Tuchel has told his players, they have a mere 24 days of training between the German taking charge and the start of next year’s tournament.
One way or another, this should be entertaining, especially given Tuchel’s criticism of Gareth Southgate’s side at last summer’s Euros. Let’s go!
