Thomas Tuchel to Lead England into Euro 2028 Despite World Cup Setback

Thomas Tuchel will lead England into Euro 2028 despite the storm swirling around him after the World Cup semi-final collapse against Argentina.

The Football Association is standing by the 52-year-old, whose conservative in-game calls in Atlanta turned a place in the final into another night of regret. His position has come under fierce scrutiny, but the FA’s backing remains firm and his future, for now, is not up for debate.

FA stands firm after Argentina heartbreak

When Tuchel was appointed in November 2024 to succeed Gareth Southgate, he arrived as the man expected to push England over the line. Southgate had taken the country to back-to-back European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final. Tuchel was billed as the upgrade, the tactician who could finally turn promise into a trophy.

For 70 minutes against Argentina, that story looked ready to be rewritten.

Anthony Gordon’s strike had England on course for their first men’s World Cup final since 1966. They were bold, front-foot, composed. Then the changes came. Tuchel’s switch towards protection rather than ambition invited Argentina on, the momentum flipped, and England were pushed deeper and deeper until the late 2-1 defeat felt grimly familiar.

The nature of the loss – not just the result, but the retreat – has sharpened the criticism. Yet the FA is not blinking.

Tuchel’s original contract covered only this World Cup. In February, though, he signed an extension through to 2028, a clear statement that he was being entrusted with a full cycle and, crucially, with a home European Championship. He has no intention of walking away from that stage.

“I have a contract until the home Euros and I’m looking forward to that even like now it is difficult to look that far ahead,” he said after the Argentina defeat, still raw from the manner of the exit.

Back at the team’s Kansas City base, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham moved quickly to reinforce that message.

“It is heartbreaking to be so close,” he said. “The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament.

“I would like to thank them all – and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further.”

From Atlanta to Miami: one more game nobody wants

England’s World Cup is not over, even if it feels like it should be. The squad must now drag themselves back to Miami, where they beat Norway in the quarter-final at the Hard Rock Stadium, for a third-place play-off against France.

It is the game that lives in the shadows of every tournament.

“A lot of big, big, big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so, yeah, it is an achievement,” Tuchel said of reaching the last four, fully aware that the words would land flat in the immediate aftermath. “No one wants to hear that at the moment. Me neither, because we demand the most of ourselves. That’s just the nature of being competitive.”

The nature of that competitiveness, he added, now demands a response.

“The nature of being so competitive also puts the next game into perspective.

“Nobody of these (England) players, nobody of French players wants to play this match. They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final.

“Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is. We have for a day less and to recover, but we will do it professionally, of course.”

The dressing room in Georgia was not a place for speeches. Tuchel kept it brief.

“I didn’t say a lot (to the players afterwards). Nothing what you say in the dressing room can take away the pain or the disappointment, of course.

“We all know these moments, so I said let’s take it with respect, let’s digest it first. Accept that we gave everything. That is a big part in a defeat.

“Did we do everything to arrive in this semi-final? Did we give everything? 100 per cent we did, and I think the fans will realise that and do realise that.

“The second of all is to bounce back, to react. That’s what you have to do on highest level in sports. It’s what is demanded and what we will do.”

The inquest into Tuchel’s decisions will not stop with a dead-rubber against France. Nor will the questions about whether this England can ever quite step through the door they keep rattling. But the FA has made its call: the man on the touchline will be the same when the country hosts Euro 2028.

The reaction, from players and manager alike, starts now.