Tuchel vows to stay as England boss through Euro 2028 despite World Cup semi-final exit

Thomas Tuchel has pledged to see out his England contract and guide the team into Euro 2028, insisting he is ‘100 percent’ the right man for the job despite a fierce backlash following their World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina.

England’s defeat in Miami ended a campaign that had otherwise been widely praised, but it also extinguished a genuine chance to reach the final for the first time since 1966. Tuchel, who has two years remaining on his £5m-a-year deal, now faces the additional task of preparing his side for the third-place play-off against France on Saturday — less than 72 hours after the Argentina loss.

‘I’ve loved it here. I loved every day,’ Tuchel said. ‘I still think we can show how good football players we are. I think that is still in us, as I see it in training and in every camp. There is still an extra level that we need to conquer to get the big prize.’

Former England captain Wayne Rooney was among the most prominent critics, slamming Tuchel’s substitutions and accusing him of employing tactics that were too negative and ultimately handed Argentina the initiative. Tuchel has pushed back on that assessment, defending his approach while acknowledging that his players sat too deep and were too passive at key moments.

He also conceded that no team could have fully contained Lionel Messi, pointing to Argentina’s tactical shift — deploying two wide wingers and two strikers — as the trigger for England’s switch to a back five. ‘We went to a back five to be closer to the wingers, to not let them have 20 metres,’ he explained.

Physical attrition was another factor Tuchel cited. Several players arrived at the tournament carrying knocks after a demanding club season, and he believes the cumulative toll of competing in heat and altitude, as well as playing a spell with ten men, ultimately cost England in the closing stages.

‘We struggled physically through the whole tournament,’ Tuchel said. ‘It cost us a lot in the end. We gave everything but it was not enough.’

With Euro 2028 set to be hosted on home soil across the United Kingdom and Ireland, the stakes for England’s next cycle could scarcely be higher. Tuchel says he intends to use the remainder of the summer to reflect on the campaign and identify why the team could not take the final step.