Thomas Tuchel says the “winner takes it all” as England end 2026 with the opportunity to top their Nations League group in Sunday’s “final” at world champions Spain.
The World Cup bronze medallists have had an intense year, with highs like the heroic triumph against adversity in Mexico followed by a heartbreaking semifinal collapse to Argentina.
England were minutes away from securing a place in the final against eventual winners Spain, who ran out 3-2 victors when they eventually did meet in September’s Nations League opener at Wembley.
La Roja have a 100% record in Group A3 but Tuchel’s men head into Sunday’s Madrid meeting with a chance of toppling them after securing a 2-1 victory they were “desperate for” against Croatia.
“The winner takes it all,” England boss Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Even like you see today like in the last 10 minutes, where it gets nervous and a bit tense and Croatia is pushing, these are important moments for us to overcome and to learn from them.
“We need exactly these games. Now it’s a final for the group victory.
“We want we wanted exactly this kind of match, and we want the victory in Spain.”
England will attempt to win the group fresh from rubberstamping their place in March’s Nations League quarterfinals — a place that was all but secured with last month’s results.
Harry Kane’s spot-kick settled things after Petar Sucic cancelled out Morgan Rogers’ opener on a night when the England skipper became the most capped Englishman in history.
The 33-year-old’s recent Ballon d’Or triumph was celebrated along with his 126th cap as the striker marked the landmark occasion with a 92nd international goal.
“A lot of shoulder clapping, of course recognition and complimentary acknowledgement in the last weeks, and this can also be draining because it’s just a lot, a lot of attention,” Tuchel said after Kane’s special night.
“But he kept his focus, kept his cool, scored a very important penalty for us for the win, so, yeah, textbook and textbook celebration today.”
Put to the England boss such focus would drain mere mortals, he continued: “Yeah, it would and it definitely does [with] him.
“Even more important that he feels comfortable to be in camp, feels cool and calm and collected in camp. He knows that he is our main guy, he is our leader and I think that helps him.
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“The less noise, the better. But at the moment it’s a lot for him. Well deserved, and of course for the occasion and for the night today, it was the perfect setup that he scores the winner.”
Tuchel has decisions to make over his final selection of the year, with defenders Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence back in contention having sat out the Croatia game due to knocks.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is available after serving a one-match ban and the England boss has been mulling over a change between the sticks.
Jordan Pickford started against Croatia having split time in the last camp with James Trafford, which Tuchel indicated he was ready to do again before Thursday’s fixture.
