​July 16 (UPI) — Thomas Tuchel said he “looks forward” to his future as manager of England’s national team after the Three Lions’ brutal exit from the 2026 World Cup.Tuchel, who became coach in 2024, nearly helped the Three Lions reach their second World Cup finale since 1966, but ultimately fell short through a 2-1 semifinal setback to Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, they will meet France in a third-place game Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla., while Argentina faces Spain in the finale Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.”There is still a match to play, that we are not looking so much forward to, but there is still a match to play and we keep on going,” Tuchel told reporters. “I have a contract until the home Euros [in 2028], and I’m looking forward to that. Even now, it is difficult to look that far ahead.”Tuchel touted his team’s effort in Wednesday’s loss. The Three Lions went ahead on an Anthony Gordon score in the 55th minute. They held that lead until Argentina equalized in the 85th minute, off an assist from Lionel Messi. Messi followed with another assist of Lautaro Martinez’s game-winning header in the 92nd minute.Coach Thomas Tuchel and England held a 1-0 lead, but allowed an Argentine rally en route to a World Cup semifinal loss Wednesday in Atlanta. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPITuchel drew criticism Wednesday for morphing his formation to a defensive-minded shape after the Gordon goal. He replaced Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute to form a five-man back line. Meanwhile, Argentina thrived on desperation and England’s safe approach, increasing their offensive aggression and dominating possession during their rally.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTuchel attempted to salvage momentum by bringing on strikers Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney in the final minutes, but the move occurred too late.England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel said he looks forward to his future in the role. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPIThe coach said at his postgame news conference that his players “weren’t active” or physical enough in either formation. Argentina held 88% of the possession following Gordon’s goal. Tuchel said “the mindset shifted” and it felt like “dying a slow death.””I believe that’s just the nature of the game,” Tuchel said. “As soon as you lose, you get criticized after. No one knows what would have happened, if we made different decisions, so it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism.England hired head coach Thomas Tuchel in 2024. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI”That’s just the way it is.”Tuchel previously considered a man-marking strategy for Messi, but his moves ultimately allowed more space for the Argentine star to control the game’s tempo.England head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) said he was proud of his players’ efforts during the 2026 World Cup. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPIEngl