‘It’s harsh’ – Roy Keane calls out Thomas Tuchel just minutes into ITV coverage of his first England game

ROY KEANE has called out Thomas Tuchel for his brutal verdict on Gareth Southgate’s England at Euro 2024.

Just minutes before Tuchel took charge for the first time, ITV pundit Keane suggested the German had gone too far.

Rex

Roy Keane told Ian Wright and Co that Thomas Tuchel might have gone too far[/caption]

The new Three Lions’ boss brought back Marcus Rashford to start in the World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley.

Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn made their debuts, with Liverpool’s Curtis Jones also starting.

The intriguing new look follows Tuchel claiming Southgate’s men lacked “hunger” and “excitement” last summer – despite reaching their second Euros final in a row.

Manchester United legend Keane appears to believe the ex-Chelsea chief had a point – but might have gone over the top.

The former midfield hardman said: “It seems a bit harsh on Gareth – but I know where he’s coming from.”

Southgate stepped down last summer, shortly after a 2-1 defeat against Spain in the Euro 2024 finale and three years after losing to Italy at the same stage following a shootout.

Tuchel, who officially replaced the Englishman in October, had no qualms in delivering a ruthless assessment of the Three Lions’ performances in Germany on Thursday.

Questioned by ITV about what the Three Lions had lacked in the last Euros, he replied: “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns.

“The freedom of player, the expression of player, the hunger.

“They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament, in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win.”

And asked what they had most needed, he said: “Excitement.

He said: “The view that people feel that the team’s to beat. That we arrive with a group to beat.

“That we know already when we arrive, once we qualified, everyone knows this is the team to beat.”