Thomas Tuchel promised a new era for England when he took charge of the national team — and early signs suggest he’s already delivering. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss is clearly steering the team away from the more pragmatic style seen under Gareth Southgate, and the numbers back it up.

According to data from Opta, England completed 437 passes in the first half of their opening qualifier against Albania — the highest recorded figure for a single half since Opta began collecting match data. Under Southgate, England's passing numbers were consistently lower, pointing to a more direct approach. Tuchel’s emphasis on a structured, possession-based game is already taking shape.

So far, the shift is paying off on the scoreboard as well: two wins from two matches and a combined goal tally of 5:0. Admittedly, the opposition — Albania and Latvia — may not have provided the sternest tests, but the early signs are promising for Tuchel's project heading into World Cup 2026 qualifying.