England’s Thomas Tuchel put on notice ahead of Norway World Cup match
England manager Thomas Tuchel is facing a dire situation if his team can’t get a necessary victory over Norway in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During an ESPN FC segment discussing Saturday’s massive matchup, England soccer legend Steve McManaman reiterated the blunt consequences a loss would bring for Tuchel.
“The manager will lose his job. I think that goes without saying,” McManaman said when asked what would happen with an England loss to Norway. “He was brought in to get them over the line, and if they lose in the quarterfinals it will be a catastrophe.”
“It would be more of a shock if England don’t win. if England lost to France, or if England lost to Argentina, no disrespect to Norway, but this will be a bombshell if England loses,” he told his co-stars.
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The 52-year-old former player was announced as England national team manager in 2024, replacing Gareth Southgate. The team reached the semifinals in 2018 and quarterfinals in 2022 under Southgate, leaving Tuchel with the task of duplicating that semifinal success, if not achieving more in 2026.
Tuchel brought a strong resume with him, previously managing major clubs including Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich before stepping into the England role.
He’s coached England to 15 wins and two losses since taking on the manager role, including qualifiers and friendlies ahead of the 2026 World Cup. At this year’s event, England won Group L, winning two games and having a draw against Ghana.
They then went on to achieve thrilling wins, 2-1 over DR Congo and 3-2 over Mexico in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, respectively.
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Now they’ll face Erling Haaland and a Norway team that has become a sentimental favorite for many fans. Some have warmed up to the team due to Haaland’s growing popularity in America, giving USMNT fans a new hero to cheer for.
Tuchel will need to have his players at their best for this one. Kane and Bellingham were stars in their Round of 16 win over Mexico, and will likely need to show up again as Norway has been a tough opponent for teams to topple.
Defender Jarell Quansah will be out for the matchup for England due to a two-game suspension for the red card he received in the win over Mexico.
England takes on Norway in their massive quarterfinal match, beginning Saturday at 5 pm ET on Fox, with the winner moving on to face either Argentina or Norway in the World Cup semifinals.
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