Summary

  • England manager Thomas Tuchel news conference before his first match on Friday

  • Tuchel says the England squad were 'afraid' to lose at Euro 2024 under Gareth Southgate, despite reaching the final but says he's excited by the players

  • Captain Harry Kane also spoke and said the players need to be able to have 'uncomfortable conversations' with each other

  • England face Albania at Wembley in Group K before hosting Latvia on Monday; Serbia and Andorra also in the group

  • Tuchel was appointed manager in October before starting the job on January 1

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Postpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on a strong group: "We were such a strong group. I think it's that next step. You know we get on really well but to be in a winning team, you need those uncomfortable moments."

    More to come.

  2. 'I have to make people believe in me and the project'published at 14:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel was also asked if he has felt a shift in how he has been received as the new Three Lions boss: "I have felt the excitement so far in the camp. I think we created a positive energy and a buzz for the first match tomorrow. It is on us. We have to prove the point, I have to prove the point and make people believe in me and the project. That is our job and this will not stop.

    "There will never be one emotional status for the rest of the next month. This will be very fluid and we have to make sure we keep everyone on board and we keep our fans excited so they believe in us."

  3. Postpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on dreaming of lifting the World Cup: "To lift a trophy with England is always in the back of my mind. It hurts when we've been so close."

    More to come.

  4. 'He sees me as number nine'published at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane spoke about how Thomas Tuchel got the best out of him during his time with Bayern Munich: "I think he did last season. He sees me as number nine, to be the guy to be in the box and score the goals. But there were times last season especially when we were building up that I was the guy to help link the play and help get us out of high-pressure situations. And if I did get on the ball, we spoke a lot of the wingers and the number ten running in behind and having runners for me, if I did drop."

  5. Postpublished at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on the leadership group: "We've had brief conversations with it but it hasn't been set. You've got me, Hendo [Jordan Henderson], Kyle [Walker], and then Dan Burn is seen as a leader. It hasn't been spoken about a lot."

    More to come.

  6. 'You stop thinking about the big picture from outside'published at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel was asked if the last week has made his new job feel more real: "Absolutely because after a lot of theory it became very practical the job, suddenly. It is very intense, it feels like a training camp, a pre-season camp to be so close with such a long time wiht players. But I have to say the players were amazing, the group were amazing and the level of the training was very, very high. So impressive and we are very happy with it so far.

    "We have one more training to go before we travel to Wembley tomorrow and make our way to the match. It helped the practical daily business helped to make it feel real. Once you start working with the players, once you start preparing training sessions and then watching it again, talking to players and so on it becomes very real. You stop thinking about the big picture from outside."

  7. Postpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on what it's been like in training under Thomas Tuchel: "We've been really sharp in training and taking on new information. All the lads have been really good at taking on that information. The training yesterday was a high level."

    More to come.

  8. 'Winning Bundesliga will be big boost for Kane'published at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel on captain Harry Kane and if they have spoken about the Bundesliga with Kane's club Bayern Munich top: "Yeah, of course but we do that on a regular basis. I think they are now very close to securing the title which will be very important of course for the club.

    "Maybe a little bit more important for Harry himself, that he has his first major trophy and when this happens it will give him a big boost to be even stronger for us."

  9. 'I know his attributes and I know how good a coach he is'published at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on arrival of Thomas Tuchel as England boss: "With Thomas, he brings a lot more energy and enthusiasm, brings a lot of passion when he's talking. He was a big reason why I went to Bayern Munich in the first place. I know his attributes and I know how good a coach he is and all the boys have been impressed with him."

  10. Postpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on Jordan Henderson: "It's great. In any squad, you need good leadership and strong leadership. We are different types of leaders but we both have an impact on people. He's been really sharp and still feel like he's got a lot to give us on the pitch."

    More to come.

  11. Postpublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Friday, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on working with Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich: "Last season I had a really good season with him and there were many reasons why. Hopefully, we can continue those kind of numbers."

  12. 'It was very nice to see they spend a lot time together'published at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about who the funniest England player is: "I have had many smiles. I think the players feel it also that I missed it [being with a team] a lot and the energy. I think it is a unique energy in a football team and in a dressing room before and after training.

    "They are very social, it was very nice to see they spend a lot time together. It is very different from club football because the players don't go home after training. They stay and we play table tennis, you play darts and cards or whatever so it is nice to see and nice to observe and even nicer to be a part of it."

  13. Postpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Friday, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England captain Harry Kane on Thomas Tuchel: "Thomas brings a lot of passion when he's talking and he was a big reason why I went to Bayern in the first place. We're excited to get out tomorrow."

    More to come.

  14. Postpublished at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    Here is Harry Kane!

    Stay tuned for what the skipper has to say.

  15. 'Hopefully we can take the first step'published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel also said on how he feels before his first game at Wembley: "I just hope so much they can see what I see on a daily basis. What i saw over the last few days was amazing and was just a joy to watch and to be part of it. So hopefully we can transport this energy and this hunger into the game tomorrow.

    "It is amazing, we have a full Wembley. It is very exciting. A bit nervous I guess but that is part of it. I am always a bit nervous before matches so this one won't be different. Hopefully we can prove the point and take the first step."

  16. 'We'll have some tough choices to make'published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel on Cole Palmer's fitness and player availability: "It makes no sense to call him [Cole Palmer] up.

    "All 26 players trained so it gives us the full choice and we'll have some tough choices to make."

    More to come.

  17. 'I have the experience'published at 13:53 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel on wanting bond between players: "I feel pressure when it comes to semi-finals and finals but then I have the experience. We have only six camps and that's why I was so strong on the point to bond with each other."

    More to come on this.

  18. 'We want to play with a hunger and a joy to win and not with the fear to lose'published at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel was also asked about his comments calling the team "afraid" to drop out of Euro 2024: "It was just my feeling. It was my feedback, First of all it was my feeling watching the TV, long before I even knew I may be in charge. i think it is a pretty clear statement and i don't know how to put it in other words. I think it has to be the other way around. I want us to play with the excitement and the hunger and the desire to win and the joy to win and the acceptance of failure is part of it, especially in football.

    "We want to implement the togetherness and the joy and for everyone to feel safe to express themselves and give their very best. We want to play with a hunger and a joy to win and not with the fear to lose. Anything can happen in football we know this but the focus is on winning, a higher number of touches in the opponent's box, higher amount of attacks, higher amount of high ball recoveries."

  19. 'I felt tension'published at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel on the shirt weighing heavy on players: "I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players. They were playing to not lose.

    "We have every right to be self-confident."

    More to come on this.

  20. Postpublished at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March

    England v Albania (Fri, 19:45 GMT)

    England

    England manager Thomas Tuchel on how he wants his side to reflect the Premier League: "I want an emotional and hungry team. We need to respect the quality of the Premier League and should reflect it."

    More to come.