England head coach Thomas Tuchel launched a spirited defence of his tactical decisions following the agonising World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, describing the loss as a "scar we carry now."
In a tense news conference before the third-place play-off against France, Tuchel insisted he had no regrets over the late changes that saw his side surrender a 1-0 lead and miss out on a first final in 60 years.
If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility. I’m the head coach.
The German, who signed a contract through to Euro 2028 after taking charge in January 2025, admitted his team became "too passive" in the last 35 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium. However, he stressed the call to switch to a back five was made to try to halt Argentina’s momentum after Lionel Messi inspired a dramatic late comeback.
Kane’s Deep Role and Physical Toll
Captain Harry Kane spent the closing stages in an unusually deep position, prompting widespread criticism, including from United States President Donald Trump. Tuchel was unmoved: "Well, that’s what you do if you defend in a block. We were not active enough."
The coach also pointed to the gruelling earlier fixtures against Mexico and Norway as factors that drained his players. "Even if it feels like an excuse, those games cost us more than we maybe thought," he said.
Looking Ahead to Third-Place Play-off
With the focus now shifting to Saturday’s meeting with France in Miami, Tuchel offered no indication he would walk away, instead vowing to close the gap to the world’s best. The performance data from the semi-final showed a significant drop in physical output compared to earlier matches, but the 52-year-old refused to dwell on the numbers.
Despite the immediate pain, Tuchel’s contract runs until 2028, and the England manager will be expected to lead the team into the next European Championship.
Key Facts:
Tuchel’s England record: World Cup semi-final exit, third-place play-off to come.
Contract: Ends after Euro 2028.
Semi-final result: England 1-2 Argentina.