Thomas Tuchel has laughed off the sarcastic chants from England fans who responded to his criticism of the 'silent' Wembley atmosphere. The German manager had complained about the lack of noise during last week's 3-0 win over Wales, prompting travelling supporters in Latvia to break into chants challenging his claim.
In the opening minutes of the 5-0 victory in Riga, fans sang: 'Are we loud enough for you?' and 'Thomas Tuchel, we'll sing what we want!' They also called for Tuchel to lead a song, chanting 'Thomas, give us a song!' The manager acknowledged them with a wave, which was met with cheers.
After the match, which sealed England's qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Tuchel smiled when discussing the fans' antics. 'I got some stick in the first half but fair enough and well done, good sense of humour and no problem,' he said. 'It was brilliant support from start to finish.'
Tuchel had previously criticised the atmosphere at Wembley, noting that many fans left early due to Tube delays. 'The stadium was silent. We never got any energy back from the fans,' he said after the Wales game. 'I stand by this statement. We cannot do more than being 3-0 in a derby.'
In contrast, the away support in Riga was described as 'rowdy' and helped drive the team to victory. Tuchel had no complaints this time, praising the fans for their humour and backing.
