Tuchel Keeps Southgate's Penalty Secret Weapon

Thomas Tuchel won't reinvent the wheel. England's new manager is sticking with Gareth Southgate's meticulous penalty shootout system—the one that turned the Three Lions from serial chokers into spot-kick winners. As England face DR Congo in the round of 32, here's what's in the blueprint.

The Shootout Numbers

• Before Southgate1 of 7
• Under Southgate3 of 4
• Pickford saves vs SwitzerlandEuro 2024
• Kickoff vs DR Congo17:00 BST

Why Tuchel Isn't Changing a Winning Formula

For decades, England and penalties were a punchline. One win in seven shootouts at major tournaments before 2016. Then Gareth Southgate arrived, and suddenly England weren't bottling it from 12 yards anymore.

Thomas Tuchel, managing his first major tournament as an international boss, isn't about to tear up the script. "The FA has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme," he told reporters ahead of Wednesday's last-32 clash with DR Congo in Atlanta. "We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process."

It's a vote of confidence in the system that delivered three shootout wins between 2018 and 2024—over Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League third-place playoff, and Switzerland again at Euro 2024. The only loss came in the delayed Euro 2020 final at Wembley, when Italy prevailed after extra time.

But Tuchel added a word of caution, echoing Thierry Henry's famous observation: "I heard Thierry Henry say he can't remember the walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot in his first penalty shootout for France—you cannot train that."

Inside Southgate's Shootout System

Southgate's approach was built on one core belief: penalties aren't a lottery. They're a skill you can prepare for, just like set pieces or pressing triggers.

The system included regular penalty practice designed to replicate match conditions as closely as possible—muscle memory over hope. Southgate chose his takers well in advance based on training performance, not just seniority or reputation. He publicly took full accountability to shield his players from blame. Each penalty taker was assigned a "buddy" to greet them at the halfway line after their walk back, a small touch designed to share the psychological load.

Jordan Pickford, England's goalkeeper, became famous for the water bottle covered in handwritten notes—detailed research on opponents' penalty tendencies. It worked: Pickford's saves against Switzerland at Euro 2024 helped England advance.

Southgate also learned from mistakes. After the Euro 2020 final, when Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were brought on in the dying seconds of extra time only to miss their penalties, he adjusted the approach. Going forward, penalty takers would get more time on the pitch beforehand to feel part of the game, not parachuted in cold.

England's Shootout Record Under Southgate

2018 World Cup vs Colombia (Win)

England's first-ever World Cup shootout victory. Eric Dier scored the winning penalty in the round of 16.

2019 Nations League vs Switzerland (Win)

Third-place playoff success in Portugal. Jordan Pickford saved from Josip Drmic to seal it.

2021 Euro 2020 Final vs Italy (Loss)

The only blot. Rashford and Sancho, subbed on late, both missed. Bukayo Saka's miss handed Italy the trophy at Wembley.

2024 Euros vs Switzerland (Win)

Quarter-final redemption. Pickford's saves and clinical finishing from England's takers saw them through.

The Challenge Ahead: DR Congo and Beyond

England won Group L with two wins and a goalless draw against Ghana, but Tuchel isn't expecting fireworks against DR Congo on Wednesday. "I think this is not the moment now to shine and to expect glamorous performances," he said. "This is the moment to go through, to get the job done, to show individual quality and little moments."

DR Congo finished third in Group K with a draw against Portugal, a loss to Colombia, and a win over Uzbekistan. Tuchel described them as "a copy of Panama and Ghana"—teams set up to frustrate rather than open up.

"We will see the best version of us if we overcome the next rounds and go further in the tournament once teams want to actually beat us and not hold us down," Tuchel added. It's a pragmatic view: grind through the early rounds, save the best for later.

As for the penalty takers? "We know who takes them and we know the order, but we don't know who finishes the game," Tuchel said. The blueprint is ready. Whether it gets tested in Atlanta remains to be seen.

FAQ

Before Gareth Southgate took over in 2016, England had won just one of seven penalty shootouts at major tournaments—a dismal record that made them the butt of jokes. The only success was against Spain in the Euro 96 quarter-finals. Under Southgate, that flipped to three wins in four attempts.

The match goes to extra time, and if still level after 120 minutes, a penalty shootout decides who advances to the round of 16. That's where Tuchel's inherited Southgate system would kick in—literally.

Tuchel confirmed the order is set but wouldn't name names, noting "we don't know who finishes the game." Based on Southgate's era, expect regulars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and other senior players who've trained extensively under the FA's penalty programme.

Southgate brought on Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho with seconds left in extra time specifically to take penalties, but both missed. Bukayo Saka also missed, and Italy won. Southgate later admitted the subs didn't have enough time to feel part of the match, and he adjusted the approach for future shootouts.