England manager Thomas Tuchel was delighted with his team’s performance following the 3-0 friendly win over Wales on Thursday, October 9, 2025, but his post-match comments were dominated by a surprising criticism of the Wembley crowd’s “silent” atmosphere.
England secured a comfortable victory with a blistering first-half display, featuring goals from Morgan Rogers (3′), Ollie Watkins (11′), and Bukayo Saka (20′).
Here are the key takeaways from Thomas Tuchel’s post-match comments, both in his TV interview and the subsequent press conference:
1. Frustration with the “Silent” Wembley Crowd
Tuchel was visibly disappointed with the lack of atmosphere, particularly in the second half, and felt the players deserved more energy from the home fans.
* Initial Reaction (to ITV Sport):
> “We had one-and-a-half training days to prepare against a well-trained team and we did very, very well. We had an excellent first half; we were 3-0 up very quickly, but could have been four or five. Then we couldn’t score the fourth one or the fifth one, and the stadium was silent. Silent!”
> “We never got any energy back from the fans, and I think the players delivered a lot to get more from the stands.”
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* On Expecting More:
> When asked if he expected more from the supporters, Tuchel replied: “Yes. What more can you give them? Twenty minutes, three goals, and the way we attacked Wales, and they didn’t let them escape, even from their own half, and it was ball-win after ball-win.”
> “If you then hear for half an hour just Wales fans, yeah, it’s a bit sad because I think the team deserved big support today.”
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* Clarifying his Comments (Press Conference):
> “Good moment to explain myself… I love English football, and I love English football fans and the support they give. But I think today the atmosphere did not match the performance on the field.”
> “Today we were 3-0 up after 23 minutes… and it felt like, ‘Why is the roof still on the stadium?’ It could have helped us also in the second half in some moments to regain energy and to regain rhythm. I’m sure we will get everyone going — it is on us — but today I was a little underwhelmed.”
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2. Praise for the Team’s Performance
Despite his reservations about the crowd, Tuchel was full of praise for his players, especially those who came into the squad to replace the high-profile omissions (Bellingham, Foden, Grealish, and the injured Kane).
* On the Performance:
> “It was difficult to keep everything going in the second half, but we did excellent and deserved to win. A step in the right direction.”
> “The spirit, the mindset is right, so they love to play this kind of football. It is a brave approach, and it takes a lot of effort, but they are happy to do that.”
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* On Team Cohesion and Structure:
> “We are nearly playing like a club team – very flexible, but staying true to our structure. Everyone buys into their role and is ready to do invisible work and help each other. I am very happy with the next step.”
> “We are ready for any team effort. Serbia was the next example of teamwork. We created a lot of chances.”
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3. Fitness Updates
Tuchel also provided an update on captain Harry Kane, who missed the game due to injury.
* On Harry Kane:
> “Harry will miss the game [against Wales]. He got a kick in his last match with Bayern Munich. It was too painful to kick a ball; it was too risky… so we gave him the chance that everything calms down. I think we are convinced that he will be ready for the match against Latvia.”
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