‘Arrogant’ England Told They ‘Don’t Have World’s Best Players’ – Ex-International Says Trophy Win Would Be ‘Miracle’

What Happened?

England, who haven`t won a major men`s international trophy since 1966, have appointed former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The Bigger Picture

Despite winning three World Cup qualifiers while keeping clean sheets, Tuchel`s tenure hasn`t been entirely convincing, leading to doubts about whether he can end England`s nearly 60-year wait for a major title.

Did You Know?

Having been part of England`s `Golden Generation` that fell short at the 2002 World Cup, Mills is familiar with the disappointment of not winning the tournament. He worries that the current England squad might not be prepared to achieve what previous teams couldn`t.

What Mills Said

Former Manchester City and Leeds United defender Danny Mills commented on Tuchel and England`s ambitions: “What people don`t grasp is that managing England is totally unlike managing a club. The circumstances and situations are entirely different.”

Mills quoted Tuchel: “Listening to Thomas Tuchel, he mentioned we`ve had only 12 or 13 training sessions. That`s equivalent to just two weeks at a club. International management is primarily about man-management – quickly assembling a cohesive team, keeping players happy, and getting them to bond rapidly. It`s challenging. You need to understand international football and its players, which is never simple.”

Mills stated emphatically: “We don`t possess the best players globally. There seems to be an arrogant belief that we have the world`s greatest players and amazing young talent, but the reality is, we simply don`t.”

He added: “Realistically, considering our squad, player quality, and experience, we`re probably ranked among the top six or eight teams globally. Reaching the quarter-finals is about average. A semi-final appearance is good. Getting to the final is brilliant. Winning it? That would be a miracle! I believe England fans need to be more realistic.”

What Next For England?

England currently leads Group K in World Cup qualifying (UEFA section). They will resume their campaign in September against Andorra and Serbia, aiming to recover from a recent friendly loss to Senegal.