Thomas Tuchel has a carefree attitude and a little bit of distance from the England job - and that could prove crucial for the German as he tries to go one better than Gareth Southgate07:00, 21 Jun 2026Perhaps he did not want to risk seeing one of his players pull a muscle on the mound or perhaps he simply fancied doing it himself.‌Either way, Thomas Tuchel could not smile widely enough as he threw the ceremonial pitch ahead of the Kansas City Royals’ game against the St Louis Cardinals on Thursday. With his name and the number 26 emblazoned on the back of a Royals jersey, Tuchel threw a strike, albeit at a very gentle velocity.‌High-fives all round.‌Harry Kane laughed as he looked on, almost like a proud but slightly embarrassed son. From afar, Tuchel looks like he is having the time of his life. Which is why English optimism after the victory over Croatia can be fully justified.It may be doing him a disservice, but it is hard to imagine Gareth Southgate showboating in a personalised baseball jersey had he still been in charge of this England team. That is not necessarily a bad thing, of course. And any comparisons between Tuchel and Southgate must be prefaced by the fact that the latter did a very good job across four tournaments.Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter‌It was a fine stint, dotted by those two runner-up finishes in the Euros and semi-final and quarter-final exits from World Cups. And he had plenty of relaxed moments in those times. But there is no doubt the job weighed heavily on Southgate.For one thing, Southgate often found himself with a remit that went beyond football, frequently asked for views on societal and political issues, regularly speaking out to promote inclusivity and diversity.Tuchel was once asked about the abusive chants aimed at Keir Starmer, but that is about it. (He said he hadn’t heard them, by the way.) It is as if Tuchel is not asked about English societal issues because, well, he is not English.‌Whatever the reason, it is most certainly all about the football when it comes to Tuchel’s brief. Which is nice for him. And he is clearly loving it. He loved the preparation camp in Florida, he loved tossing the baseball, he loved the enormity of the occasion in Dallas last Wednesday.That is why he was so infuriated with his view being blocked by hordes of photographers when he was trying to watch the pre-match ceremony.‌A 4-2 win over Croatia is good for the mood, but so far, this looks like some sort of bucket-list trip for Tuchel, rather than an onerous expedition that carries the heavy burden of a nation’s expectation on his shoulders.Tuchel does not sing the national anthem because it is not his national anthem, no matter how Anglicized he might consider himself.This job is deeply personal to Tuchel. Imagine having World Cup glory with England on your CV. There is an ego there, that is for sure, hence the anger at his side’s first-half performance against Croatia. He was angry because the performance was spoiling his enjoyment.‌Tuchel has never said it but he probably can’t believe his luck. For most of the time, it is pretty much a part-time gig that pays a hundred grand a week. Outside of this tournament, competitive games have only been competitive by name. Opponents are normally inferior. What is not to like?But judging by his demeanour and words over the past fortnight, Tuchel is enjoying this job even more than he thought he would. He looks like and speaks like a manager who is in a win-win situation.‌Recounting his half-time team talk in Dallas, Tuchel said: “(I told them) even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days, but let’s do it our way.”There was talk of Tuchel being fearless. But that is because he clearly thinks he has got nothing to fear. He is having a ball. Southgate often looked like he had the cares of a country on his mind - baseball-throwing Tuchel looks like he has not got a care in the world.And maybe, just maybe, that will make all the difference.Article continues belowJoin our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.