Thomas Tuchel is adamant he remains the right man to lead England into Euro 2028, despite a furious backlash after his side blew a lead and lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. The manner of the defeat – a tactical misstep that saw England “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” in the final minutes – has left the German facing his first major crisis since taking charge.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney led the criticism, slamming Tuchel’s substitutions and insisting his tactics were too negative, handing victory to Argentina. But Tuchel, who has two years left on his £5m-a-year contract, is defiant. “Yes, 100 percent,” he said when asked whether he is the manager to take England forward into the home Euros. “There is still enough to improve, and I am more than happy to do that.”
“Tuchel insists he is the man to lead England at Euro 2028 despite criticism after World Cup semi-final defeat.”
The 52-year-old argued his plan would have worked, but admitted his players sat too deep, were too passive, and that no team could keep out Lionel Messi. He also blamed a gruelling season: too many players joined up nursing knocks, and throughout the tournament England struggled with heat, altitude, and playing with a man down. “We gave everything but it was not enough,” he said.
Tuchel must now pick his side up for the third-place play-off against France in Miami on Saturday – less than 72 hours after the semi-final heartbreak. England are likely to make wholesale changes, and Tuchel plans to use the rest of the summer to reflect on why they could not go one step further.
Beyond that, attention turns to the Nations League: a meeting with Spain at Wembley on 26 September, plus games against Czechia and Croatia. Then comes qualifying for Euro 2028, which England will take part in despite being co-hosts. The squad’s over-reliance on Harry Kane – who turns 33 in July and played every minute of the World Cup except stoppage time against Mexico – remains a concern. Ollie Watkins, the Premier League’s top-scoring English striker last season, managed just six minutes in the tournament. Ivan Toney got only the final throes against Argentina. Tuchel must find a Plan B.
“I still think we can impose ourselves more on the ball,” Tuchel insisted. “I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer.” The question now is whether his critics will give him the time to find it.
