Several audiences have criticised the appointment of former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel as the new England manager – however, Graeme Souness isn’t convinced by the naysayers.

The ex-Liverpool man believes it is a ‘good’ appointment and thinks that England have enough strength in their existing squad to win the World Cup in 2026.

Furthermore, he also expressed sympathy with Tuchel, declaring the Three Lions job to be the ‘hardest job in English football’. He noted Terry Venables’ credentials as a coach – even an accomplished manager such as he was unable to attain the level of success that the fans demanded.

What did Graeme Souness say about former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel?

Speaking with William Hill, Souness said: “I’ve got no qualms with Thomas Tuchel. He’s a good manager who has worked with big players at big clubs. He’s dealt with pressure before and that will come his way if he doesn’t get off to a winning start.

“He’s inherited a strong group of players. It’s about keeping them happy and then picking the right team on the day. He will know all the players and he’ll have contacts to call them up and keep in touch with them. I think it is a good appointment. They’re good enough to win the World Cup, it’s just about getting the team set up correctly and having a bit of luck on your side.

“Some people have been pretty negative about the FA’s appointment of Tuchel. Why should opinions be split on him? Our Premier League is the number one league in the world and it’s full of foreigners! Why not have a foreign manager coaching the national team? People say that in an ideal world the England manager would be English, but who lives in an ideal world anymore?

“Even if you’re an Englishman, you still get treated badly if you lose – it’s the hardest job in English football. Terry Venables was an Englishman and a great communicator, but how long was it before they turned on him? It’s the price on the ticket of being the England manager.”