England Have Better World Cup Chances Than Germany, Says Ex-Tottenham Star Steffen Freund
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Steffen Freund has backed England as one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, claiming the Three Lions currently have a better chance of lifting the trophy than Germany. However, the former German international has also identified what he believes could become Thomas Tuchel’s biggest challenge as England manager.
Speaking about the upcoming tournament in North America, Freund praised the depth and quality of England’s squad, arguing that it gives them a significant advantage over Germany. While Germany can boast world-class talents such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, Freund believes England possess greater strength across all positions, making them more capable of competing with football’s elite nations.
According to Freund, England’s abundance of talent creates a positive selection headache for Tuchel. The German coach, who took charge of the Three Lions after a successful club career with teams including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, has a wealth of options at his disposal.
“England definitely have a better chance of winning the World Cup than Germany,” Freund explained. “Thomas Tuchel has far more options available to him. Choosing his final squad is much more difficult because there is so much quality in English football.”
In contrast, Freund admitted that Germany continue to struggle with squad depth. He noted that discussions around the national team often revolve around whether certain players deserve inclusion, highlighting a lack of elite alternatives compared to England.
Despite his confidence in England’s talent, Freund warned that Tuchel’s man-management skills could become a decisive factor during the tournament. The former midfielder pointed to concerns over the manager’s ability to maintain strong relationships with players over a lengthy competition.
“If Tuchel has one weakness, it is sometimes managing individual players,” Freund said. “At a World Cup, you could be together for six or seven weeks if you reach the final. Keeping all 26 players happy when everyone wants to play is not easy.”
Freund suggested that maintaining unity within the squad will be essential if England are to end their long wait for major international success. He believes the team’s ability to remain united through difficult moments could determine whether they finally win a major trophy.
The outlook for Germany, however, appears less optimistic. Freund openly admitted that he does not see Julian Nagelsmann’s side as genuine World Cup contenders. While acknowledging the potential of young stars such as Musiala, Wirtz, and emerging prospect Lennart Karl, he believes Germany lack the overall balance and depth needed to challenge football powerhouses like Brazil, France, Spain, and Argentina.
“We cannot win the World Cup,” Freund stated bluntly. “We have talented young players, but we do not have a deep and strong squad like England, France, or Spain. Other nations are simply better equipped at the moment.”
Looking ahead to the tournament, England face a challenging Group L campaign against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, while Germany have been drawn into Group E alongside Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. Both nations will be hoping to make deep runs in the competition, but Freund’s assessment places England among the leading favourites to become world champions in 2026.
