Henry Winter’s World Cup Diary, Day 33
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“What’s your coach doing?” the driver yelled as I got into an Uber at Newark Airport and mentioned I was here to watch football. Ray, a native of Algeria, is a Real Madrid fan and a loyal viewer of the Premier League, has detailed knowledge of many English players and is confused by Thomas Tuchel’s tactics and changes. “You have to be aggressive.” Ray means boldness and confidence, not physical confrontation. Wray echoed the sentiments of countless people who were confused and increasingly angry when Tuchel chose fear instead of fighting.
The current situation is very sensitive and serious. Fans are outraged. The anger of those players who were unimpressed by Tuchel’s tactics and gave up their chance of reaching the final was understandable. The media is awash with dissent. There will be a review by the FA and no doubt Tuchel will reassure them that they are fully committed to the Nations League and Euro 2028, but there is virtually no one at the FA against him. If Tuchel is likely to survive, it’s partly because the FA board would have looked foolish offering him a new contract before the final. People seem to have overlooked one thing: who else?
Pep Guardiola has emerged as the favorite, but does he really want a role that guarantees no success but only sadness? The FA couldn’t even match half of his £20m salary at Manchester City. Guardiola said he wanted to take a break anyway and have more time at Barcelona.
Who else? Eddie Howe has been targeted in the past. He may decide now is the time to leave Newcastle United, given financial constraints and uncertainty over the owner’s level of commitment. Howe was a good manager, but not a first-rate manager. He was an obvious homegrown choice.
Former England internationals like Frank Lampard would certainly be linked with the role. But does he want to leave Coventry City immediately, especially after their promotion? Lampard enjoys the day-to-day responsibilities of club management as well as spending time on the grass with his players.
Lee Carsley has endured a difficult spell as a caretaker (five good results, one crash), has a great record with the Under-21s, won back-to-back European Cups, and knows many of the players. If the FA looked at how Spain and Argentina selected and developed their coaches Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni respectively, it would appear that it is not through posh club work. Carsley followed their route. But would Carsley, a private man, want the role to come under intense scrutiny?
If Mauricio Pochettino leaves the U.S. national team, he will have his supporters cut off. But it’s largely just a handful of names. The Football Association is studying coaching identities and developing talented coaches after they are identified so that there will be more local management talents in the future. But not yet, which makes Tuchel’s position even firmer.
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There is a dangerous phenomenon at the World Cup known as the “FIFA XV”. Don’t worry, they’re not taking over rugby league. This is a more important question, which is how much weight can reporters bear while running between training grounds, airports, media centers, and stadiums, grabbing snacks everywhere. I’m about 10% cheesecake-y right now. At least it fills the hole left by England.
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As I was waiting in line for a flight from Atlanta to Pittsburgh with a connecting flight to New York, my phone went off with an Amber Alert. Someone’s name flashed on my screen along with the car’s license plate and number. The phone vibrated, and some people next to it made noises. I originally thought this was an issue with passenger cars parked at the airport, which seems pretty niche unless it’s on fire. “The child is missing,” a woman in line explained. If a child is abducted, everyone in the country will receive this Amber Alert. My first, second and third reaction was that the immediate thought of this poor child and parents and what they had to go through was shocking. It seems more personal when sent directly to your phone. My fourth reaction is what a great system this is. Every second counts.
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One of the highlights of American airports, in addition to ubiquitous WiFi and a large number of cheesecake shops, are the small libraries next to some departure gates. When I was transferring from Pittsburgh on my way from Atlanta to Newark, I read this quote: “Take a book, leave a book, and enjoy a book while you wait.” Of the 18 flights I took during the World Cup, they were delayed by up to 20 minutes. There is not much time for reading.
Catch up on the rest of Henry Winter’s World Cup diary here