England manager Thomas Tuchel recently found himself at the centre of a lively exchange with supporters following his earlier comments regarding the “silent” Wembley crowd. After England`s comfortable 3-0 friendly victory over Wales, Tuchel had expressed his disappointment, suggesting that home fans could have provided more energy to motivate his side, especially during the second half of the match.
Fans Hit Back with Defiant Chants
During a subsequent international match against Latvia at Daugava Stadium in Riga, England supporters seized their opportunity to respond directly to their manager`s remarks. A large contingent of English fans loudly chanted, “We`ll sing when we want, we`ll sing when we want, Thomas Tuchel, we`ll sing when we want!” They also playfully questioned, “Are we loud enough for you?” Some fans even resorted to a more explicit chant, humorously declaring, “Our support is f*cking sh*t!” Tuchel, however, appeared unfazed by the direct address, acknowledging the visiting fans with a simple thumbs-up gesture.
Kane`s Record-Breaking Performance Secures World Cup Berth
Amidst the spirited fan interaction, England delivered a commanding performance, largely powered by a fully recovered Harry Kane. Having missed the Wales friendly due to an ankle injury, Kane returned to the starting lineup against Latvia with significant impact. He scored twice – a powerful left-footed strike in the 44th minute followed by a penalty just minutes later. These goals not only secured a crucial victory but also marked a new personal record for Kane, making it his 13th international appearance with two or more goals, surpassing Nat Lofthouse`s long-standing record. His total international goal tally now stands at an impressive 76 goals in 113 matches, a performance that played a decisive role in securing England`s World Cup qualification.
Tuchel`s Squad Decisions and Future Outlook
Tuchel had previously faced scrutiny for his squad selection for the October international break, particularly for omitting several high-profile players including Manchester City star Phil Foden, loanee Jack Grealish, and Real Madrid`s Jude Bellingham. Despite these notable absences, England showcased strong attacking depth, managing to score a combined eight goals across their two matches this month, demonstrating the breadth of talent available.
With their World Cup berth now confirmed, and a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal—including Eberechi Eze, who scored after coming on as a second-half substitute, alongside options like Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen from the bench—Tuchel finds himself with enviable choices. The German coach may now use the final two group matches against Serbia and Albania in November to experiment with different lineups and tactical approaches, fine-tuning his squad ahead of the major tournament.
