With England leading 1-0 in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, the dream of a first final since 1966 was within reach. Then came Thomas Tuchel's substitutions, a collapse, and a 2-1 defeat that left fans and pundits questioning the manager's decisions. But for all the anger, the Football Association (FA) has made its stance clear: Tuchel stays. The German coach, appointed in January 2025 on an 18-month mission to win the World Cup, signed a two-year contract extension in February 2026 and is expected to lead England into Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham publicly backed Tuchel, saying: 'The players and Thomas gave it everything today.' Tuchel himself said: 'We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros.' England's semi-final defeat came after Anthony Gordon gave them the lead, but Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the game around. Tuchel's defensive tactics were criticised by pundits: ex-England striker Alan Shearer strayed onto the pitch in an attempt to greet Dan Burn, while Wayne Rooney suggested Tuchel 'surrendered' with his changes that made the team 'lose belief'. BBC pundit Chris Sutton questioned whether Tuchel was the right person to continue. Despite the disappointment, England's run to the semi-final is their best performance since 1966; they still have a bronze-medal match against France on Saturday. Bullingham described the loss as 'heartbreaking', but Tuchel retains full FA backing. Jude Bellingham, England's standout player, was seen in tears afterwards and clashed with Argentina's Valentin Barco. Argentina will face Spain in the final. For Tuchel, the job is not just about this tournament—it is about building towards a home European Championship in 2028. 'A lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement,' Tuchel said. 'No-one wants to hear that at the moment.' The question now is whether the criticism will fade or grow louder before the Euros.
Q: Is Thomas Tuchel going to be sacked? No. The FA has confirmed he retains their full backing and is expected to lead England into Euro 2028, despite the semi-final defeat.
“Explains Thomas Tuchel's future as England manager after World Cup semi-final defeat”
Q: Why are people criticising Tuchel? Critics point to his defensive substitutions that surrendered a lead against Argentina. Wayne Rooney said Tuchel 'surrendered' and BBC pundit Chris Sutton questioned if he is the right man for the job.
Q: What is Tuchel's contract situation? Tuchel signed a two-year extension in February 2026, meaning he is under contract until after Euro 2028. His original appointment was an 18-month deal running from January 2025.