Tuchel's Azteca Regret: 'I Wish I'd Eaten the Grass'

Thomas Tuchel has disclosed a peculiar regret from England's World Cup campaign: not eating grass from the Azteca Stadium pitch after the Three Lions' dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16. In a new FA documentary titled 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey', Tuchel told former striker Daniel Sturridge that he texted a friend post-match, saying, 'I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever.' The comment quickly went viral on social media.

The documentary also highlights the profound unity within the squad, exemplified by their reaction to Jordan Henderson breaking his arm during the post-match celebrations. 'Within a second, every single player was there, stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan,' Tuchel recalled. 'It was just so special.' The film, released exclusively on the England app, offers an intimate look at the team's bond and resilience throughout the tournament.

Tuchel attributed part of the Mexico win to the calming influence of training at the Azteca, where the team embraced the mantra 'silence is powerful.' He explained, 'We even had five minutes on the match day of meditation and manifestation of the last whistle.' The altitude and weather delays had dominated pre-match talk, but Tuchel believes the peaceful energy helped his players overcome a hostile environment and play over 35 minutes with ten men.

With the FA conducting a review of the World Cup campaign, Tuchel remains optimistic about the future. He feels the experience has strengthened his connection with the group ahead of upcoming challenges, including the Nations League clash with Spain and the 2028 Euros. 'I'm excited about what comes next,' he said, underscoring the team's growth and determination to build on their third-place finish.