THOMAS TUCHEL hit out at England fans following the win over Wales.
The Three Lions boss was frustrated with the lack of atmosphere from the home fans inside Wembley, despite his side’s impressive performance.
England raced into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes with goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka.
But Tuchel complained he could not hear any singing from the England fans, only the travelling Welsh faithful.
He said post-match: “We did very well, we had an excellent first half. We could have been four or five nil up. Very good.
“We could have been 5-0 up at half-time. We couldn’t score the fourth and fifth ones. The stadium was silent.
“We didn’t get any energy back from the stands. We did everything to win.
“We deserved to win. That’s the next step in the right direction.
“What more can you give them, three goals in the first 20 minutes.
“You only heard Wales fans for half an hour, it’s a bit sad because the team deserved more.”
England ratings v Wales
THOMAS Tuchel’s side blew the Dragons away in a brilliant first half.
But they took their feet off the gas in the second half, perhaps with Tuesday’s game against Latvia in mind.
So who impressed the manager at Wembley, and who has more to do?
Find out here with Tom Barclay’s player ratings.
Tuchel later added: “The support in Serbia was absolutely fantastic. I love English football fans but the atmosphere today didn’t match the performance on the field.
“I stand by this statement. We cannot do more than being 3-0 in a derby. I was thinking, ‘why is the roof still on the stadium?’
“I would have wished for a bit more support in phases where it gets difficult. In the second half to get behind us, there was a bit too much support for Wales.’
England fans were shocked by Tuchel’s comments and fear it will do him no favours.
One responded saying: “Really poor from Tuchel to criticise the Wembley crowd. It is a friendly against a poor Wales side, 3-0 and game over after 20 minutes.
“There would have been lots of first time fans, families, children… no need for it.”
Another added: “Tuchel having a pop at the England fans in Wembley, that will definitely work out well….”
A third wrote: “Tuchel giving Wembley pelters.
“He’s probably got a point, but I don’t see that earning him any fans…”
And another commented: “Oh dear….Tuchel doing himself no favours criticising the England fans.”
Three things we learned from England v Wales
By Tom Barclay
WATKINS TAKES HIS CHANCE
OLLIE WATKINS seized a rare chance in the absence of Harry Kane, who was named among the subs but was never coming on.
The hero of the Euro 2024 semi-final struck his sixth goal for England when teed up by Aston Villa team-mate Morgan Rogers inside 11 minutes.
There were brief fears Watkins may have seriously injured himself when lunging for an Elliot Anderson cross.
But fortunately it was just a scare and he played on until half-time, when he was replaced by Marcus Rashford.
With very little in reserve behind Kane, it was comforting to see No1 understudy Watkins impress – particularly after his underwhelming start to the Premier League season.
ROGER THAT
MORGAN ROGERS was arguably the big winner of the night given, if everyone were fit and firing, he would be third, fourth or even fifth choice to start No10.
But after this impressive display, where he grabbed a goal, an assist and also struck the bar, the Villa man will be very much in Thomas Tuchel’s thinking going forward for the role.
Rogers will know that old mates Jude Bellingham and Cole Palmer will still likely be ahead of him in the pecking order once they return to fitness.
Yet Phil Foden’s bid to reclaim his squad place is looking even tougher after Rogers’ exploits.
DJED’S WHAT’S LEFT
THOMAS TUCHEL still has a headache at left-back, but Djed Spence did not let him down there on his full England debut.
He kept club-mate Brennan Johnson quiet and got forward when he could, supplying one or two dangerous crosses, though he did pick up a yellow.
The former Middlesbrough man, 25, did his chances no harm amid form and fitness concerns over Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Luke Shaw and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
One thing in Spence’s favour too is he is a right-back by trade, and that is where he shifted over to for the final ten when Lewis-Skelly came on.
Read the full article here