England need hunger to win not fear to lose - Tuchel

England manager Thomas Tuchel says he wants the team to play with a "hunger to win" and not "a fear to lose" as he prepares for his first match in charge of the Three Lions.

England begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Albania at Wembley on Friday before facing Latvia on Monday.

Under former boss Gareth Southgate, England reached back-to-back European Championship finals but Tuchel was critical of their style of play at Euro 2024.

"I've heard a lot that it's a heavy shirt. It is in fact not. But I know what the players mean," he said in a news conference on Thursday.

"Watching the Euros I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players and they were playing not to lose.

"I want us to play with excitement and the hunger and desire to win...and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football."

Southgate led England to the final at Euro 2020 and 2024 - where they lost to Italy and Spain, respectively - and guided them to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals in 2022.

But the 54-year-old was criticised by some for a perceived safety-first style at Euro 2024, where England scraped past Serbia in the group stage before drawing against Denmark and Slovenia.

Wins against Slovakia, Switzerland and the Netherlands followed in the knockout stage but Southgate came under fire for being unable to get the best out of a star-studded squad.

England captain Harry Kane says it feels like now is the time to take the next step and win a tournament.

"We have been extremely close to being two-time European champions," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"We have been as successful as any other team for England for the last 15 years, but ultimately you are going to be judged on whether you win finals or not.

"Early on in Gareth's reign we spoke about getting to semi-finals, getting to finals, and keep repeating that.

"We are kind of at that stage now and now it's about winning something."

Former Bayern Munich boss Tuchel, 51, led Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2021 having twice won Ligue 1 during his two-year spell in charge of Paris St-Germain and lifted the Bundesliga with Bayern.

He has never managed in international football but, on being appointed by the Football Association to replace Southgate in October, was tasked with trying to deliver a first piece of silverware since the 1966 World Cup at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I think we have so many offensive players we should play on the front foot," Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I think we have a lot of wingers for example that are strongest when they play from the wide positions.

"This then feeds into our decision on how we want to play - to put the strength of the players to where they are used to playing and where they can express themselves."

Tuchel's more attacking and front-footed style may be a welcome change for those England fans critical of Southgate's style while his first squad selection appeared indicative of a focus on the next 18 months and winning the World Cup rather than longer-term squad development.

In an interview with ITV Sport, Tuchel said England were missing "the identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger" to win Euro 2024.

On Thursday he said: "I think we need to turn this around. We have so many experienced players, so many players who have won with clubs and I think we have every right to be self-confident."

Tuchel 'has not disappointed' in first camp

Kane, who played under Tuchel at Bayern last year, said the players have adapted quickly to their new manager and his methods in his first training camp.

"I had the pleasure of working with him last year and I knew what he could bring to the type of squad we have," said Kane.

"We've only been together a few days and it hasn't disappointed. Camp after camp, as he settles in and we get to know him more, I think we will improve as we go. Ultimately, it's about building up until next year."

Tuchel left Bayern at the end of the 2023-24 season, Kane's first with the German club, after they failed to win the Bundesliga for the first season in 11 years.

"He's very straight talking," said Kane. "He knows what he wants and knows what he wants from his team.

"It doesn't matter who you are or how many games you played, he'll tell you the same as he will tell one of the young players what he wants. That's a good standard to set."

Tuchel aims to create 'brotherhood' – analysis

Thomas Tuchel has repeated many times that he wants clear messaging during his time as England head coach.

And he delivered a definitive message before and during his news conference about England's performance at Euro 2024.

Tuchel says he could tell from watching on TV that England were "afraid", and many fans would agree that Gareth Southgate's team did not play their best football - even though they reached the final.

Tuchel has said he is going to set England up in a style that reflects the Premier League, which means he is going to lean towards fast-paced games and getting balls into the box.

The 51-year-old also wants to create a "brotherhood" while doing so and has looked to create a squad filled with big characters - recalling Jordan Henderson, calling up Newcastle defender Dan Burn for the first time and retaining Kyle Walker.

At Euro 2024, the feeling from both outside and around the squad was that things were not as happy as they had previously been, and Tuchel hopes creating strong bonds will be the way for England to get over the line and win the World Cup.