England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that the national team will continue to follow the penalty shootout strategy implemented by his predecessor, Sir Gareth Southgate. The team is preparing for their first knockout match of the World Cup against DR Congo on Wednesday, a game that could potentially require a penalty shootout.
Tuchel's side will face DR Congo in Atlanta at 17:00 BST. Prior to Southgate's tenure beginning in 2016, England had a notably poor record in major tournament shootouts, winning only one of seven matches. Under Southgate's management, however, the team's preparation for shootouts was significantly enhanced, leading to a success rate of three out of four shootouts between 2018 and 2024.
"The FA [Football Association] has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme," Tuchel said. "We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process."
Despite the established plan, Tuchel acknowledged the inherent difficulty in replicating the high-pressure environment of a penalty shootout during training. He referenced former player Thierry Henry's comments about the inability to fully simulate the experience of walking up to the penalty spot in a major tournament scenario.
When questioned about player autonomy in taking penalties, Tuchel indicated that the order and selection of penalty takers are predetermined. "We know who takes them and we know the order, but we don't know who finishes the game," he stated, suggesting that the plan is set but contingent on the match's progression.