Thomas Tuchel has finally revealed the truth. England’s quarter-final victory over Norway was not, in fact, the result of tactical brilliance, player development, or years of careful preparation. It was luck. Pure, unadulterated luck.
The England manager’s candid admission has left former players nodding sagely, as if they have always suspected that international football operates on the same principles as a scratch lottery ticket. One can only assume Tuchel’s pre-match ritual now involves consulting a fortune teller, burning sage, and ensuring every player carries at least three rabbits’ feet into the tunnel. Why settle for a coherent formation when you can simply trust the universe?
But Jude Bellingham, the match winner, has other ideas. The midfielder dares to suggest that perhaps—just perhaps—there was something more to England’s performance than cosmic intervention. A radical theory, certainly. One that threatens to overturn everything we thought we knew about how football actually works.
The disagreement is delicious. On one side, a world-class manager admitting his team succeeded despite themselves. On the other, a player insisting that skill, timing, and execution might have played some minor role. Somewhere between these two positions lies the uncomfortable truth: England won because they were better on the day. But admitting that would require accepting that luck is simply what we call good performance when we do not fully understand it.
Tuchel’s humility is refreshing, even if it is completely unearned.