Why Thomas Tuchel didn’t sing national anthem during England’s first World Cup game
England coach Thomas Tuchel remained tight-lipped when the national anthem was played ahead of the Three Lions clash against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.
Some of the finest players our country has to offer taking to the pitch at the Dallas Stadium tonight (17 June) - and no pressure lads, but the hopes of the entire nation are currently resting on your shoulders.
Before the game began, the boys were seen with their arms locked around each other belting out 'God Save The King'...but Tuchel didn't join in.
The move didn't go unnoticed by those watching from home, as one person took to social media to say: "Thomas Tuchel refused to sing the national anthem again…"
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Another football fan wrote in a post on X: "Tuchel didn’t [join in] though."
A third joked: "What have I and Thomas Tuchel got in common? Neither of us sang the English national anthem."
And a fourth chimed in saying: "The cameraman knows what he’s doing showing Tuchel not singing the national anthem."
The Bavaria-born manager, who used to be in charge of Chelsea, has previously held his tongue during the national anthem at a number of other England games too - and he's got a reason for holding his tongue during this symbolic moment.
It turns out that Tuchel will only join in if England manage to reach the final of the World Cup - and if that isn't motivation for his squad, we're not sure what is.
When previously asked if he would join in singing before England and Croatia kick off tonight in Texas, the former footballer told reporters: "Not yet. I think we are not there yet.
"At the very end maybe. I am still a bit shy. I don’t want to offend people and don’t want to have the focus on that now."
When asked if he knew the words to 'God Save The King', he laughed as he responded: "It’s not so difficult."
Others took to X to defend Tuchel for not singing, as one fan wrote: "Not long till there is loads of moaning about Tuchel not singing the national anthem, it’s not his national anthem and it would be more weird if he did sing it."
A second said: "In what world was Tuchel ever going to sing the national anthem??? I don't want him to be pressured into singing in the final either!"
And a third added: "Who are the idiots going on about Tuchel not singing the national anthem?!"
Before the game at the AT&T Stadium, he urged his players to be 'brave' during their World Cup debut while taking on their rivals.
"I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players," the head coach said of how he is approaching the tournament.
“I feel clearly that the players want it and that it helps us, and that they are successful in club football like this. They compete in the strongest league, most of them.
"The others who are not in the league compete in the highest level in Europe and Champions League and they play in brave and active teams. That’s what we try because it makes them comfortable.
“I think it makes things exciting and creates a certain energy, and we need a connection with our fans, who are here, with the fans at home, to create something special.”
Olivia Burke