Thomas Tuchel Faces a Race Against Time: Can He Fix the England Team Before Mexico Clash?

THOMAS TUCHEL got away with it this time.

But he now has just two full training sessions to sort his team, otherwise will be swept away by Mexico’s green machine in what will be an unforgettable, frenzied night at Azteca Stadium.

Harry Kane fired England through to the World Cup last-16 Credit: Getty The striker scored twice to complete a comeback following a poor first-half performance against DR Congo Credit: Getty

The only thing coming home will be the Three Lions.

If ’s team defend like they did , the opposition will not need the help of a dodgy refereeing decision like this country’s last visit to Mexico City in 1986.

Realistically, England are not going to win the . So if you have another event on July 19, you’re probably not going to be double-booked.

It would obviously be brilliant to be proved wrong but this team is nowhere near as good as many pundits would have you believe.

Yet a team with the back four we saw at the stunning Mercedes Benz could properly get destroyed the first time they face a really strong team.

Many people have made fun of this team. But anyone who watched the way they in the first half of their last-32 clash will know they will be a huge threat.

Tuchel got his squad wrong, obviously. Once , it was stupid that – even though Tuchel does not fancy the defender – was not called up. Or . Or even .

Yet the players Tuchel selected had to do better than this, although at least the coach changed the game with his subs.

Thomas Tuchel has to make some changes if England are to go further Credit: Getty

was badly at fault for Brian Cipenga’s opening goal, although he remains England’s best keeper by a mile so he is not going anywhere.

Back home in England as England fans spat out their beer after seven minutes, lots of fingers were pointing at . He suffered a really poor game and he cannot start in Mexico City.

But for the opening setback, was at fault because he did not get back quick enough to mark the spare man. Spence, then guilty of a poor header, could only have switched players had got back to support but he, too, was too far away.

which left Tuchel short at right-back. Hopefully, against Panama, will be fit enough to play. Otherwise, Tuchel has to switch to right-back and bring in to partner in central defence.

In attack, , as ever, flatters to deceive and he has to return to the substitute’s bench. So credit to who did incredibly well to provide the winning goal for Kane.

The Three Lions endured a disappointing first half Credit: Getty

England’s players will take a two-hour flight back to Kansas City after the game and only those who did not play 90 minutes will train properly tomorrow, so the next proper session will be on Friday.

Tuchel has to monitor midfielder who has been and was unable to drive forward, even in the first half.

That was one reason why he will have been put at right-back when subbing Spence. Tuchel will have looked to have switched to a back three and play .

But the German coach was unable to do that because the man, a bit like his north London team-mate, is clearly not fully-fit.

So, not all of this if Tuchel’s fault. Some of it is due to Arsenal players being overplayed under – there’s a surprise – although the England manager has not helped himself.

In Mexico on Sunday evening – the early hours of Monday morning in England – will be a hell of an experience for anyone lucky enough to get a ticket.

England’s fans will be heavily outnumbered in the stands but let’s hope that is not the same case when they defend.

cannot do everything on his own.