Here's something you don't see every day. German football fans are actually backing England at the upcoming World Cup. Yes, you read that right - our traditional rivals are now cheering for the Three Lions.
The reason? They want to see their countryman Thomas Tuchel succeed on the biggest stage in football. And honestly, who can blame them? If Germany can't lift the trophy, many Germans reckon they might as well have one of their own mastermind a World Cup victory.
Of course, not everyone's being entirely sincere about it. Some cheeky German fans are already joking that the only way England could end 60 years of hurt was by putting a German in charge. But hey, we'll take the support however it comes.
The Unlikely Alliance
This surprising development came to light at a reception hosted by Germany's UK ambassador Susanne Baumann in London. The event celebrated growing ties between the two nations over shared passions - football, beer, and surprisingly, darts.
One German broadcaster put it perfectly: "England can expect a whole lot of German support at the World Cup. After all, we have so much in common, and you have a German manager."
A diplomatic source added: "If Germany can't win, we might as well have a German manager lift the World Cup. You may have Luke Littler in darts, but we've got Thomas Tuchel."
Tuchel's Rocky Start
The 52-year-old manager from Bavaria hasn't always had it easy with English supporters. When he was appointed two years ago, he actually apologized for holding a German passport. That's quite an introduction.
Anti-German sentiment on social media got so bad that David Baddiel, who wrote the Three Lions anthem, had to step in and tell critics to back off. Tuchel even faced terrace taunts after criticizing fans for being too quiet during a 3-0 friendly win over Wales.
At the next match against Latvia, England supporters chanted: "We'll sing when we want, Thomas Tuchel, we'll sing when we want." To his credit, Tuchel loved it, calling it brilliant support with a good sense of humor.
But results speak louder than banter. England absolutely dominated their World Cup qualifying group, winning all eight matches and finishing 10 points clear without conceding a single goal. They swept past Albania, Serbia, Latvia, and Andorra in sensational style.
The FA was so impressed they extended Tuchel's contract through 2028, well beyond the World Cup. For those eyeing England's tournament odds, that perfect qualifying record and extended manager commitment should factor into your thinking. As one German broadcaster confidently stated: "We Germans...we know how to get results."
Whether English fans will return the favor and support Germany remains to be seen. But for now, England heads to the World Cup with an unexpected army of German supporters behind them.
