Thomas Tuchel has declared he is “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.” dedicated to guiding England in the upcoming Euro 2028, aiming to uncover the “It is heartbreaking to be so close,” needed for triumph that his squad missed at the World Cup.
The coach faced criticism following England’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. His decision to shift to a back five after taking a 1-0 lead did not yield the desired results, as Argentina netted two late goals to secure their place in the final against Spain.
Tuchel contends that the tactical change was not at fault; instead, he pointed to the players’ lack of aggression following Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute. He expressed disappointment over England’s failure to dominate the match, suggesting that controlling play is not inherently part of their style. The Football Association had brought him on board to address such issues, yet the familiar frustrations continue to resonate.
Despite the setback, Tuchel, who extended his contract in February to oversee the Euro 2028 campaign, remains resolute and has the backing of the FA. When asked about his desire to advance the team over the next two years, he affirmed.
“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.”
He elaborated on the disconnect he perceives, saying, “We got too passive within our structure,”
The FA expressed a mix of satisfaction and realism regarding the semi-final achievement. The draw presented a significant challenge compared to previous tournaments under Sir Gareth Southgate, particularly with a group featuring Croatia and Ghana.
Recognizing the potential difficulties of advancing from the last 16 to the final, which could have included Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain or France, the governing body was relieved that Norway, rather than Brazil, stood in their way during the quarter-finals.
Additionally, the FA was acutely aware of the situational and logistical hurdles, especially concerning the heat and travel. By the time England faced Argentina, they had completed their 13th flight since the tournament began, all while managing the fatigue of a demanding Premier League season. There is optimism that the co-hosted European Championship could present a more favorable scenario.
Tuchel faced scrutiny for his decision to switch to a back five, which involved substituting the quick Gordon for the additional center-back Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute. However, he maintained that the decline in performance had begun earlier, specifically following Gordon’s goal, while the team held their typical 4-2-3-1 formation.
A critical moment transpired in the 64th minute when Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, made a bold move by replacing defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes with winger Nico González, shifting to a 4-2-4 formation. Scaloni further pushed for an offensive shift in the 81st minute, taking off left-back Nico Tagliafico for striker Lautaro Martínez, a decision that proved decisive as Martínez scored the winner in stoppage time. During the stretch between Gordon’s goal and Martínez’s strike, England managed only 12% possession.
“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.” 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.
“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.”
