WADDLE AND GAZZA MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC

World Cup love affair for 17-year-old Tuchel ... the England ‘star’ in his own back garden

- By John Cross

THOMAS TUCHEL has been dreaming about starring in a “magical” World Cup since he was a teenager.

The England head coach has led the Three Lions to the brink of qualification for next summer’s tournament in North America and already has thoughts of winning the trophy.

It has brought back childhood memories of playing in the back garden while he was watching England at Italia 90.

Tuchel recalled turning his collar up to look like former England winger Chris Waddle and remembering Paul Gascoigne and the epic semifinal penalty heartbreak against his own West Germany, who went on to lift the trophy.

“I was watching like crazy,” said Tuchel. “I was Chris Waddle with the collar up in my garden and I was Paul Gascoigne, and I was all these kinds of guys.”

Tuchel had been clutching a book about England’s Italia 90 campaign — All Played Out by Pete Davies — which prompted the conversation.

A few journalists had told him about some good English football books to read and Tuchel also recalls collecting souvenir picture books after major tournaments.