Thomas Tuchel has received the full backing of the Football Association and will lead England into Euro 2028 despite a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
The Three Lions were minutes away from a first men's World Cup final since 1966, but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez shattered their dreams in Atlanta. Tuchel faced criticism for his substitutions as the team surrendered a 1-0 lead, yet FA chief executive Mark Bullingham moved quickly to confirm the German's position is safe.
FA Issues Strong Vote of Confidence
Bullingham expressed his disappointment but emphasised the progress made under Tuchel. โIt is heartbreaking to be so close,โ he said. โThe players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament. I would like to thank them all โ and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home.โ
The FA's stance reflects a long-term view, with Tuchel having signed a two-year contract extension in February that ties him to the national team until the European Championship on home soil in 2028.
Tuchel: 'We Keep On Going'
โWe keep on going with the contract until the home Euros,โ Tuchel said in his post-match press conference. โI'm looking forward to that even though right now it's difficult to look that far ahead. Of course, it's a semi-final; a lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement. No-one wants to hear that at the moment; me neither because we demand the most of ourselves. That's just the nature of being competitive.โ
How England Let It Slip
Anthony Gordon fired England ahead in the 55th minute, converting from Morgan Rogers' cross. But Argentina's relentless pressure told late on. Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before Martinez headed the winner deep into stoppage time, leaving England players and fans devastated.
Defender Dan Burn summed up the mood: โGutted. Absolutely gutted. We nailed the gameplan pretty well.โ Captain Harry Kane added: โWhen you're so close, when you're 10-plus minutes away and it slips out of your hands like that, it's a tough one to take.โ
What Happens Next
England will face France in the bronze-medal match on Saturday (22:00 BST), offering a chance to secure the nation's best men's World Cup finish since 1966. Beyond that, Tuchel's focus will shift fully to building a squad capable of lifting the trophy at the 2028 home Euros.
Key Facts:
- Tuchel was appointed in January 2025 and signed an extension to 2028 in February 2026.
- England's 2-1 defeat marks a second semi-final loss in eight years after 2018's exit to Croatia.
- Argentina, led by Lionel Messi's two assists, will face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final.
- Victory over France would give England their best World Cup result since winning in 1966.
