​England boss Thomas Tuchel insists he is “100%” committed to guiding England to a major trophy after their exit from the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions fell 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals, and Tuchel faced sharp criticism in the wake of the match for adopting a defensive approach after taking the lead.
Speaking on the record about England’s struggles to retain possession in the second half, Tuchel leaned on England’s DNA to explain the issues. “In this moment my feeling was no structure in the world could have helped us,” he said. “Because actually we were too passive and we were not physical enough, we didn’t stop runners arriving in our box and the deliveries were wrong too. I haven’t seen the data yet, but I think just right after the goal the momentum swings completely and ball possession drops dramatically. We couldn’t find any duels anymore; that’s 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—from through our gaps, and the deliveries were on the highest level. You need 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 in the Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.”
Despite the setback in the semi-finals, Tuchel stressed his enduring commitment to England and their long-awaited pursuit of a major trophy. “One hundred percent,” he stated when asked if he remains devoted to the role. “And there’s still enough to improve, still enough to improve and I’m more than happy to do that.” He added that improvement is possible and necessary, insisting there is more to come from this England team.
Tuchel asserted that England can impose themselves more on the ball and showcased belief in the players’ quality. “I still think we can impose ourselves more on the ball; I still think we can still show how good football players we are. I think it’s still in us because I see it in training in every camp and here also in the World Cup, and I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer and we need to step up on the next level and then to get the big prize.”
Looking ahead, Tuchel identified clear targets for improvement. He remains convinced that England possess the talent and potential to climb to the summit of world football once again and lift a major trophy in the near future. The coach’s message was one of resolve and forward momentum, signposting a determination to refine England’s approach, sharpen their ball control, and recapture the attacking intensity that will be required to challenge the world’s best teams in future tournaments.