Tuchel says England not World Cup favourites but can dare to dream

England manager Thomas Tuchel has tempered expectations for his team at the upcoming World Cup, stating they are not among the top favorites. He cited the nation's 60-year wait since their solitary triumph in 1966 as a significant factor diminishing their favorite status.

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We're not the top favourites. We can't be, because we haven't won it for so, so many years.

However, Tuchel emphasized that this does not diminish England's potential or their ambition to win. He believes the team is in good shape and can 'dare to dream' of lifting the trophy. Tuchel compared England's situation to a tennis player at Wimbledon who, despite never having won the championship, still has a chance to compete and win.

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There are proven winners in the tournament with more success in recent tournaments. So, these are the favourites, and we compete for the trophy.

Drawing from his extensive experience in club football, particularly Champions League campaigns, Tuchel stressed the importance of a calm mindset and focusing on incremental steps. He believes that once the team reaches the quarter-finals, their belief will grow, allowing them to potentially go all the way. England's World Cup journey begins on June 17 against Croatia, a rematch of the 2018 semi-final.

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It's just like if you ... go to Wimbledon, you have never won it ... (you're) not the favourite. But you can win it, of course, and we want to win it, but we know what it takes, and it takes also a calm mindset and focus on our steps.