Thomas Tuchel was hired to win the World Cup, but after England crashed out in the semi-finals against Argentina, the German manager is under more scrutiny than ever. Former England captain Alan Shearer summed up the mood: "We expected more – I know I did – but just because Tuchel did not deliver does not mean his time should be up."
Tuchel took charge of the Three Lions in January 2025 on a contract that originally ran only until summer 2026. He signed a two-year extension in February 2026, meaning he is now contracted to lead England into the 2028 European Championship, which the country will co-host. The FA has made clear it wants him to stay.
“The state of Thomas Tuchel's England reign after their World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.”
England breezed through their group, beating DR Congo, co-hosts Mexico and Norway before facing Argentina in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, but Argentina – inspired by Lionel Messi – equalised and eventually won 2-1. Many fans and pundits felt Tuchel got his tactics wrong: after scoring, England retreated, and his substitutions did not stem the tide. "When you give that much possession away to a very good team for so long, and give that much freedom to the little genius Lionel Messi, then he is going to cause damage – and he did," wrote Shearer.
The defeat means England will now play in the third-place play-off, a match that carries prize money but little else. For Tuchel, the questions are about his methods and whether he can finally end England's 60-year wait for a World Cup final.
Why Tuchel was appointed
Tuchel was brought in to do what Gareth Southgate could not: win the biggest games. He had won the Champions League with Chelsea and reached another final with Paris Saint-Germain. His remit was clear – to get England "over the line in finals, the times when we have fallen so agonisingly short in recent years", as Shearer put it.
Q: Should Thomas Tuchel be sacked?
The FA is not considering it. Tuchel signed a contract extension only weeks before the World Cup, and FA chiefs are keen to keep him for Euro 2028. Shearer believes criticism will not faze him: "Tuchel is experienced enough and has been successful enough to know how the game works."
Q: What did Tuchel get wrong against Argentina?
Shearer argued that Tuchel reverted to a defensive approach too early, inviting pressure from a world-class team. England had been better when teams opened up against them, but Tuchel instead chose to protect the lead – and it backfired.
Q: What happens next for England?
England still have the third-place play-off to play. Beyond that, Tuchel will prepare for Euro 2028, which England co-hosts. The scrutiny will intensify, but the FA has backed him to continue.
As for false reports, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp felt compelled to deny quotes attributed to him about Tuchel. In a video, Klopp said: "It's not true. I didn't speak to anybody for the last three, four, five days."
