Tuchel vows to stay as England boss despite World Cup semi-final exit to Argentina

Thomas Tuchel has pledged to continue as England manager after retaining the backing of the Football Association, despite facing fierce criticism following the Three Lions’ World Cup semi-final elimination by Argentina in Atlanta.

Tuchel, who signed a new two-year extension in February after formally taking charge in January 2025, is preparing to lead England in the third and fourth-place play-off against France in Miami before turning his attention to the 2028 European Championship.

“First of all, the World Cup is not over,” Tuchel said. “There is still a match to play that we are not looking forward so much to, but there is still a match to play. Then we keep on going. I have a contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that, even now [when] it is difficult to look that far ahead.”

The 2028 European Championship will be co-hosted by England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, with the final staged at Wembley — the same venue where England lost to Italy on penalties in the delayed Euro 2020 final.

Tuchel has come under particular scrutiny for his defensive substitutions during the Argentina defeat, though he stopped short of accepting personal responsibility for the momentum shift that cost England.

“We were not active enough in any structure,” he said in his post-match press conference. “We were not active enough in a 4-4-2, in a 5-3-2 or a 5-4-1. We didn’t stop the runners into the box, we were not physical enough in the last line. I try to solve it from the sideline and yeah, sad and upset about my players because we were close, but it is what it is.”

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham expressed his disappointment while offering support to the squad and coaching staff. “Heartbreaking. It is heartbreaking to be so close,” Bullingham said. “The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further.”

England’s third-place play-off against France in Miami will be their final game of the 2026 World Cup, before Tuchel refocuses on building a side capable of winning a major tournament on home soil for the first time since 1966.