And I just felt like: 'Wow,'" Tuchel said.
The manager explained how those experiences shaped his appreciation for elite players who perform at the highest level.
"It was a good moment for me to put into perspective what I then demand from just 10 metres on the other side of the sideline.
It felt so different. I'm so close all the time but just being there, I thought: 'Wow,'" Tuchel said.
He recalled a similar moment in his first home Bundesliga match as Borussia Dortmund coach against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
"Two minutes before the whistle goes, I think: 'Wow.
I'm so glad I don't have to play because I would not have the legs for it,'" Tuchel said.
Tuchel emphasized that competing in major matches requires a rare level of physical and mental fortitude.
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"You need to be a special breed if you want to take the last step and play in these moments.
I cannot praise enough the players who perform, who put out physicality, who open their legs and feel free and put on a fight," Tuchel said.
England has reached only three World Cup semifinals in history, winning in 1966 and losing in 1990 and 2018.
Despite the historic significance, Tuchel insisted on prioritizing immediate preparation.
"It is to focus on what the players need to do to become that, not to talk about the end product," Tuchel said.
When asked about Lionel Messi, who will face England for the first time in his 23-season career, Tuchel offered a measured perspective.
