Thomas Tuchel has expressed his unwavering commitment to guiding England through Euro 2028, aiming to unlock the “Yes, 100%. There is still enough to improve and I am more than happy to do that. I’ve loved every day of the World Cup. “I said after the quarter-final win against Norway that I see a disconnect from what I see in training on a football level and within the games. We can impose ourselves more on the ball. We can show what good football players we are. That is still in us as I see it in training and in every camp. And here also at the World Cup. I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer. We need to step up to the next level to get the big prize.” needed for success that his squad fell short of during the World Cup.
Following a 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta, Tuchel faces criticism for his tactical decisions, particularly his change to a back five when England was leading 1-0. This strategy backfired as Argentina capitalized on late opportunities to secure their place in the finals against Spain.
Tuchel maintains that the tactical switch was not the issue; rather, it was the players’ lack of aggression after Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute. He lamented England’s failure to maintain possession and dictate the game, suggesting that such control may not be part of the team’s inherent style. The Football Association tasked him with addressing these challenges, yet familiar shortcomings have resurfaced.
Despite the setback, Tuchel, who extended his contract in February to oversee the Euro 2028 campaign, remains resolute and has the FA’s support. In response to whether he intends to lead the team forward, he affirmed, “It is heartbreaking to be so close,”
He further elaborated, “The players and Thomas gave it everything and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament. I would like to thank them all.”
The FA acknowledged a degree of satisfaction with the team’s semi-final appearance, tempered by realism. The draw was deemed tougher than previous tournaments under Sir Gareth Southgate, beginning with a group including Croatia and Ghana.
Moreover, the FA recognized the potential difficulties of advancing from the last 16 to the final, which could have included encounters with teams like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain or France. Ultimately, England faced Norway in the quarter-finals instead of Brazil.
Logistical challenges, particularly concerning heat and travel, were also taken into account. England’s game against Argentina marked their 13th flight since the tournament’s start, following a demanding Premier League season for many players. There is hope that co-hosting the European Championship will present a more manageable scenario.
Tuchel’s decision to switch formations, sacrificing the speed of Gordon for an additional center-back in Ezri Konsa at the 72-minute mark, drew scrutiny. He contended that the issues had begun earlier, specifically after Gordon’s goal when the team continued in their 4-2-3-1 setup.
A pivotal moment arose in the 64th minute, as Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, substituted defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes for left-winger Nico González, transitioning to a more aggressive 4-2-4 formation. In a bold move in the 81st minute, Scaloni replaced left-back Nico Tagliafico with striker Lautaro Martínez, who would ultimately score the decisive goal during stoppage time. Notably, England managed only 12% possession between Gordon’s and Martínez’s goals.
“We got too passive within our structure,” Tuchel remarked. “I tried to help … for us to actually be more active in a back five, to be quicker out to their wingers. We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active but we just struggled. We couldn’t find any duels any more, which was why we dropped deeper and deeper. It was never the plan but it happened. We couldn’t stop the runners from the second line, the midfielders through our gaps. And their deliveries were on the highest level.
“We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back. We just couldn’t cope with the momentum swing. Ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or the Argentinian or Brazilian DNA – to take the ball and control the game.
“I tried to help … for us to actually be more active in a back five, to be quicker out to their wingers. We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active but we just struggled. We couldn’t find any duels any more, which was why we dropped deeper and deeper. It was never the plan but it happened. We couldn’t stop the runners from the second line, the midfielders through our gaps. And their deliveries were on the highest level. “We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back. We just couldn’t cope with the momentum swing. Ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or the Argentinian or Brazilian DNA – to take the ball and control the game. “It’s also not a problem to defend deep. You can stay active. But we struggled. We struggled physically, as well. Through the whole tournament … playing in the heat, playing in the altitude [against Mexico] and with a man down [after Jarell Quansah’s red card]. It cost us a lot in the end. We gave everything but it was not enough. “My feeling is that no structure in the world could have helped us because we were too passive. We were not physical enough, we didn’t stop runs arriving in our box and the deliveries were then too good.”
