Thomas Tuchel strikes agreement with FA that sees new England boss working from GERMANY and missing huge games

NEW England boss Thomas Tuchel has struck a deal with the FA to be based in Germany. The 51-year-old German penned an 18-month contract last October to replace Gareth Southgate. Tuchel officially began his new £5million-a-year role as Three Lions chief on January 1. He has since been seen at Premier League grounds around the country ahead of his first squad announcement next month. But according to The Times, Tuchel has already missed three rounds of top-flight fixtures and cup matches.

The FA have agreed Tuchel can make regular trips back to Germany to see his family. He has two children with ex-wife Sissi, who he divorced in 2022. The ex-Chelsea boss attended his first Premier League game on January 4, watching Tottenham take on Newcastle. He has since watched 16 more matches at home and abroad, including Champions League games in France, Spain and Italy. But he has also missed the entire FA Cup third-round weekend and three entire Premier League gameweeks.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS. Asked by talkSPORT how often he would be at the FA's base at St George's Park, Tuchel said: "Very regularly, this our home, this is our base. "I will be there otherwise we cannot create the atmosphere that is needed for the 18 months we have together. "I'm happy to be there. We have an excellent infrastructure.". Tuchel is preparing for his first game in charge on March 21.

The Three Lions host Albania at Wembley in the first of their World Cup 2026 qualifiers. England will then take on Latvia three days later, again at the Home of Football. Group A: Winner GER/ITA, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg. Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo. Group C: Loser POR/DEN, Greece, Scotland, Belarus. Group D: Winner FRA/CRO, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan. Group E: Winner SPA/NED, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Winner POR/DEN, Hungary, Ireland, Armenia. Group G: Loser SPA/NED, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta. Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino. Group I: Loser GER/ITA, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova. Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechenstein. Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra. Group L: Loser FRA/CRO, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.

Tuchel will become England's third foreign manager after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. After taking the job in October, he said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. "I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. "To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.".