Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his intention to remain as England head coach through to Euro 2028, despite the team’s recent semi-final defeat to Argentina in the World Cup. The match, held in Atlanta, saw England lose 2-1 after Argentina staged a late comeback, scoring two goals within seven minutes. This result denied England a spot in their first World Cup final since 1966.
Tuchel, who was appointed head coach in January 2025, had extended his initial contract earlier this year to cover the period leading up to Euro 2028. That tournament is set to be co-hosted by England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland. When directly questioned about his future following the World Cup exit, Tuchel stated, “We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros.” He acknowledged the difficulty of looking that far ahead immediately after the defeat but affirmed his commitment.
Semi-final defeat and player reactions
The semi-final clash saw England take an early lead through Anthony Gordon. However, Argentina responded with goals from Chelsea‘s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, ultimately securing their victory. The defeat left players and staff disappointed, particularly given the late turnaround in the match.
England captain Harry Kane expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’m gutted.” He reflected on the team’s approach after taking the lead, noting that trying to hold onto a 1-0 advantage proved insufficient at this level of competition. Kane indicated that while the message from Tuchel and his staff was to continue pushing for another goal after Gordon‘s opener, the team seemed to retreat, which invited pressure from Argentina.
Kane further elaborated on the tactical shift, observing that England struggled to maintain pressure on the ball after their goal. He felt that in the first half and early second half, the team pressed effectively, creating pressure high up the pitch and controlling the game. However, after scoring, he noted a change, with Argentina pushing more men forward, leading to a relentless series of attacks that England could not withstand despite defensive efforts.
Despite the loss, Tuchel highlighted that reaching the semi-final for the second time in eight years was an achievement for England. He pointed out that many major footballing nations are eliminated before this stage. While acknowledging that no one, including himself, wanted to hear about achievements immediately after such a competitive loss, he emphasized the professional approach required for the upcoming third-place play-off.
Upcoming fixture and managerial speculation
England is scheduled to play a third-place play-off match against France in Miami on Saturday. Tuchel admitted that neither team would prefer to be in this match, as both aimed for the final. He noted that England would have one less day than France to recover but committed to approaching the game professionally, focusing on bouncing back and reacting, which he described as essential at the highest level of sport.
The semi-final loss has led to some public discussion regarding Tuchel‘s position, with calls for his departure emerging in some quarters. However, his confirmed commitment to his contract until Euro 2028 suggests stability in the coaching role for the foreseeable future. Despite the immediate disappointment, Kane also acknowledged the team’s progress, stating, “We’ve had a lot of good moments in this tournament. We’ve had a lot of good games, another semi-final. We talk about knocking on the door. We’re close. We just need to find that missing piece.”
Amidst the speculation, various names have been mentioned as potential future England managers, though Tuchel‘s current commitment makes these discussions hypothetical. Among those frequently cited by bookmakers are Sir Gareth Southgate, Steven Gerrard, Kieran McKenna, Graham Potter, Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Lee Carsley, Eddie Howe, and Pep Guardiola. However, Tuchel‘s contract extends until Euro 2028, indicating his leadership for the upcoming tournament.
Kane reiterated the effort put in by the squad, stating, “The lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is, so to fall short like today is just gutting.” He concluded by noting the mental and physical toll of such tournaments, emphasizing that the team has shown resilience over the past six to seven weeks they have been together.
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Source: skysports.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”