Thomas Tuchel says it would be ‘madness’ to rest England players despite longer window

Thomas Tuchel says it would be “madness” to allow his England players or the clubs to pick and choose their matches during the elongated Nations League window as he promised to go full throttle for victory against Czechia in Prague on Tuesday. The manager did accept that Declan Rice needed to rest and could not be part of the squad in light of the Arsenal midfielder’s heavy workload across a number of seasons and well-documented fitness issues. Rice was at Wembley on Saturday to watch England lose 3-2 against Spain in their opening Nations League game.

But now that Tuchel has his group, he says there is no room for compromise and certainly not to speak to club managers who might want to make deals over their players’ minutes. Tuchel does not want to rotate his starting personnel, although he does accept it could be impractical. After Prague, England go to Rijeka to play Croatia on Saturday before returning to Wembley to face Czechia next Tuesday.

I cannot manage [the minutes of] the players. I knew as a club coach … if I would call a coach in Brazil or Argentina, they would not know what I am talking about. The players would not know what I am talking about.

We want to win the next match. I would love not to rotate but I am not sure if it’s possible. An ideal scenario would be to go again and go again and go again.

With six or seven players minimum that start again – to put the responsibility on them and for them to feel the trust.” Tuchel accepted the Spain defeat had increased the pressure for the trip to Prague but he was unconcerned. There is no room for managing [the players] or an economic style. It’s how the team want to play, how we want to play so let’s go.” Tuchel was asked whether Jude Bellingham, who was at his rampaging best against Spain, could sustain his all-or-nothing style for another three England games in quick succession.

It’s not an economic game. I would love to have him four times on the pitch. The concern is that he hasn’t done it this season in this tight period.