Thomas Tuchel insists he is “100 per cent” committed to leading England into Euro 2028 after receiving the backing of the Football Association following their World Cup semi-final heartbreak against Argentina.
Tuchel has come under fire from all quarters following his defensive substitutions in the 2-1 defeat to the world champions, after England went on the back foot and tried to hold on following Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener in Atlanta.
Tuchel defended his changes but admitted England were too “passive” – while The Independent understands Argentina’s players were privately stunned by Tuchel’s negative tactics as the Three Lions dropped deep and invited pressure.
The FA are nevertheless understood to feel that England’s elimination was not the fault of Tuchel’s tactical decisions, with the German explaining that the DNA of English football needs changing if his side are to win major tournaments.
“There is still enough to improve, and I am more than happy to do that,” Tuchel said on leading England at a home Euros. “I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer and need to step up to the next level to get the big prize.”
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Gary Lineker questions ‘unfathomable’ England tactics against Lionel Messi and Argentina
Gary Lineker described England’s tactics against Lionel Messi and Argentina as “unfathomable” as Thomas Tuchel’s side let a 1-0 lead slip in the World Cup semi-final.
“I found it absolutely unfathomable that, if your tactic is to sit everyone deep, you do that against the greatest player ever to play football,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football in reference to Messi.
“I think he’s just cementing that game after game after game. Most goals in the World Cup, most assists in the World Cup. And he moves to the right, yeah, and you play a back five, and you still don’t go and get tight to him.
“Just put someone on him. He had so much space. He just whipped ball after ball after ball into the box.”
What punishment could Argentina face for Falklands banner after England win?
Argentina could face disciplinary action from Fifa after several of their players celebrated with a banner supporting their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following the World Cup win over England.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was previously fined £20,000 by Fifa in 2014 after Argentina’s players held up a banner with the same message.
The governing body said the actions, which followed a friendly win over Slovenia, had breached rules on political action and team misconduct. Argentina fans have chanted songs referencing the islands throughout this World Cup.
A Fifa spokesperson said: “As is standard procedure, Fifa’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa Disciplinary Code.”
The deeper question England must answer after latest World Cup failure
The FA went big for a proven winner in Thomas Tuchel – only to fall short in familiar fashion. Miguel Delaney argues English football needs a rethink from top to bottom
Jude Bellingham clarifies Lionel Messi confrontation in England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina
Jude Bellingham insists he was simply “discussing a foul” with Lionel Messi as a clip of their heated confrontation in the World Cup semi-final went viral on social media.
Bellingham, who can speak fluent Spanish, was embroiled in a conversation with Messi in the first half during a brief pause in play, resulting in Messi making a pointed facial expression and Bellingham laughing as he walked away.
Jude Bellingham could face Fifa disciplinary action over post-match ‘slap’ on Argentina player
England midfielder Jude Bellingham could face disciplinary action from Fifa after appearing to strike Argentina’s Valentin Barco on the back of the head following their World Cup semi-final defeat in Atlanta.
It remains to be seen whether Fifa’s disciplinary committee will take action against Bellingham and any action could result in a suspension for the third-place play-off against France in Miami on Saturday.
Fifa to investigate whether Argentina broke rules over Falklands banner
Fifa will assess whether Argentina players broke rules after displaying a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final win over England.
It comes after Downing Street called for an investigation into the celebrations, which saw several Argentina players wave a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates to “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian”.
Argentina players privately stunned by Thomas Tuchel’s defensive approach to World Cup semi-final
Exclusive: Argentina were stunned by England’s response to taking the lead in their World Cup semi-final and were shocked by the defensive nature of Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions, having specifically prepared themselves for the introduction of pace in the second half.
The Independent understands Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was braced for the introduction of one of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, if not both. Scaloni and his staff were aware that their side’s main vulnerability is when a game is stretched, leaving them vulnerable to speed in behind.
Argentina players remarked afterwards that they feared this exact scenario following Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, only to gradually realise that England were dropping deeper and deeper.
Thomas Tuchel blames England’s ‘DNA’ following World Cup semi-final defeat
England boss Thomas Tuchel says the DNA of English football needs changing if his side are to win major tournaments and insists he is “100 per cent” committed to staying in the job.
Asked whether it is possible to change the English mentality following the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, Tuchel said: “If it happens then it has to be changed.
“But I’m not sure, I always try to think in football terms, in football matters. I haven’t seen the data yet but I think right after the goal, the momentum swings completely in ball possession, chances and it drops dramatically.
“We got too passive within our structure. I tried to help, not to become more passive with a back five but to be more active, to be quicker out to the wingers, not to open up the gaps between the back four.
“We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active within the structure, but we just struggled. We couldn’t find any duels any more which was why we dropped deeper and deeper, which was never the plan but it happened.
“We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back.
“I think ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA to take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem.”
Thomas Tuchel ‘100 per cent’ committed to leading England into Euro 2028
Thomas Tuchel has reiterated his desire to lead England at Euro 2028 and has retained the backing of the Football Association despite the nature of the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
“Yes, 100 per cent,” said Tuchel, who signed a contract through to 2028 before the start of the tournament. “There is still enough to improve, and I am more than happy to do that.
“I’ve loved it. I loved every day. I said after the Norway game that I see a disconnect from what I see in training on a football level and within the games, I think we can impose ourselves more on the ball.
“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.
“And here also at the World Cup. I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer and need to step up to the next level to get the big prize.”
The way Micah Richards handled his father’s death reminds us how little football really matters
Hours before the England vs Argentina kick-off, the BBC’s World Cup pundit found out his father had died – but decided the show had to go on. I know how hard it is on TV when you’ve just lost a loved one, says Ava Vidal
