Thomas Tuchel established himself as England's ultimate risk-taker, assembling a squad that few other managers would have dared to select. His willingness to defy convention defined his approach from the outset.
A gritty, backs-to-the-wall victory over Mexico offered early validation of his methods, suggesting that the German coach's instincts might just pay off on the biggest stage.
His boldness extended to personnel decisions too, with Morgan Rogers handed a starting berth based purely on what Tuchel described as "a feeling from the coach" — gut instinct over conventional wisdom.
Yet those same gambles that initially appeared inspired would ultimately come back to haunt him, as his changes spectacularly backfired and England's campaign unravelled in dramatic fashion.