IDENTITY CRISIS

Tuchel style still not clear as World Cup finals loom

- By John Cross

FIVE games into Thomas Tuchel’s reign and we are still none the wiser.

And, worryingly, Tuchel has only seven more games to stamp his identity and style on this England team ahead of the World Cup.

England laboured to an ugly, awkward and unconvincing win over Andorra to maintain their 100 percent record in their qualifying campaign.

They are top of Group K but face arguably their hardest test in Serbia tomorrow night.

That said, England are unbeaten in 35 World Cup qualifiers - 27 wins and eight draws - which is the best of any team in Europe. But they have always been good at qualifying.

Their problems are when they get to the tournaments.

Tuchel is supposed to be the elite manager to get them over that final hurdle, which just eluded his predecessor, Gareth Southgate.

The worry is whether England are making progress.

Tuchel’s reign has included decent wins against Albania and Latvia.