Ammon News - There was outcry in the English media: In its bid to end its decades-long wait for a trophy, England’s national team turned to a German.

The Daily Mail published a back page headline declaring it a “dark day for England” when it emerged Thomas Tuchel, a serial-winning coach with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, would lead the national team into the 2026 World Cup.

“I’m sorry, I have a German passport,” he said when unveiled by the English Football Association last October.

Tuchel has an easy charm and sharp sense of humor. He will likely need both in the role.

For England’s men, their one and only major trophy was the 1966 World Cup. Tuchel’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, came closest to ending that drought by leading England to the final of back-to-back European Championships and the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup.

Southgate was credited with making fans fall back in love with the national team, yet at last year’s Euros he had to contend with fierce criticism from the terraces, with some venting their fury by throwing plastic beer cups in his direction when he went to applaud them after one match.

That was despite England advancing to the knockout stage as group winner. It went on to reach the Euros final, where it lost 2-1 to Spain, with the winning goal coming in the 86th minute.

No other England manager reached the final of two major tournaments, yet Southgate was still considered by some to be a failure. AP