Many Are Calling Out England Team Coach Thomas Tuchel for His Silence During the National Anthem, but He Has a Strategic Reason for Staying Quiet
An unnecessary ask.
England coach Thomas Tuchel stayed silent during the national anthem ahead of the team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Croatia, and many are already calling him out for it. While the players belted out God Save The King with their arms linked, Tuchel stood quietly on the sidelines, a decision that didn’t go unnoticed. Some took to social media to joke about it, while others outright criticized him, but the Bavaria-born manager has a very specific reason for keeping his lips sealed.
According to LADBible, one fan on X wrote, “Thomas Tuchel refused to sing the national anthem again…” Another simply noted, “Tuchel didn’t [join in] though.” A third chimed in with a joke: “What have I and Thomas Tuchel got in common? Neither of us sang the English national anthem.” And a fourth pointed out, “The cameraman knows what he’s doing showing Tuchel not singing the national anthem.” The reactions were mixed, with some questioning why he wouldn’t participate.
Tuchel, who previously managed Chelsea, has been consistent in his approach. He’s stayed silent during the anthem at multiple England games. When asked if he knew the words to God Save The King, he laughed and said, “It’s not so difficult.” The coach’s stance is that he’ll only join in if England makes it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final – and if that isn’t motivation for the squad, it’s hard to imagine what would be.
Fans argue that it’s not his national anthem and pressuring him to sing it is strange
One wrote on X, “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.” Another added, “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 bluntly asked, “Who are the idiots going on about Tuchel not singing the national anthem?!”
According to Metro, Tuchel has been open about his reasoning in the past. When he was first appointed England manager in October 2024, he explained that he sees singing the anthem as something he has to earn. “I understand it is a personal decision; there are managers who sing and some who don’t,” he said at the time. “I have not made my decision yet. No matter what decision I take, I will always show my respect to the country and a very moving anthem.”
He later expanded on this, saying he feels the anthem is so powerful and meaningful that he can’t just sing it without proving himself first. “I have to earn my right to sing it. I feel that it is not just a given. You cannot just sing it,” he said. “I will earn the right with results, with building a group, with doing my job properly and by creating a feeling where maybe even you guys [in the media] say at some point: ‘Now it’s time that you sing it. It feels like you properly earn it and you’re a proper English guy now!'”
Tuchel isn’t the first non-English manager to face this kind of scrutiny
Sven-Göran Eriksson, the Swedish coach who led England from 2001 to 2006, did sing the anthem before games, though he admitted he never quite “mastered” God Save the Queen. Fabio Capello, the Italian manager who took over from 2008 to 2012, chose not to sing, arguing that it’s wrong for someone to sing the anthem of a country they’re not from.
Tuchel’s approach falls somewhere in between – he respects the anthem but doesn’t feel entitled to sing it yet. Before the Croatia match, Tuchel urged his players to be “brave” in their World Cup debut. “I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players,” he said.
He added, “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.” He emphasized the importance of connecting with fans, both at the stadium and at home.
So while some fans might see Tuchel’s silence as disrespectful, it’s actually a calculated decision. He’s not just being shy; he’s setting a goal for himself and the team. If England makes it to the final, he’ll sing. Until then, he’s letting his work do the talking, or in this case, the singing.
(Featured image: Voltmetro)
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