Thomas Tuchel to Lead England into Euro 2028 After World Cup Setback

Thomas Tuchel will lead England into Euro 2028 despite the storm swirling around him after the World Cup semi-final collapse against Argentina.

The 52-year-old, appointed in November 2024 to push England beyond Gareth Southgate’s near-miss era, has come under fierce fire for the way his side let a first World Cup final since 1966 slip away in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon’s goal had England on the brink. Then came the retreat.

Tuchel’s changes tightened England’s shape, but they also loosened their grip on the game. Argentina were invited on, wave after wave, and the late 2-1 defeat felt painfully familiar to a nation that has lived this story before.

Yet inside Wembley’s corridors of power, there is no appetite for revolution. The Football Association still backs its man.

FA stands firm

Tuchel originally signed up only for this World Cup cycle. In February, though, the FA doubled down, handing him an extension through to 2028. The plan is clear: he will lead England into a home European Championship.

Speaking in the raw aftermath of the Argentina loss, Tuchel did not flinch from that commitment.

“I have a contract until the home Euros and I’m looking forward to that even like now it is difficult to look that far ahead,” he said, the wound still fresh but the message unambiguous.

Back at base in Kansas City, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham echoed that tone. There was no hint of doubt, only disappointment.

“It is heartbreaking to be so close,” Bullingham said. “The 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 – and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further.”

The flight out of Georgia on Wednesday night carried a squad drained by the manner of defeat, but not yet heading home. England’s tournament is not over.

A game nobody wants

Instead of preparing for a World Cup final, England must drag themselves back to Miami, to the Hard Rock Stadium where they had surged past Norway in the quarter-finals. This time the prize is third place and a meeting with France.

It is the fixture every elite player dreads.

“A lot of big, big, big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so, yeah, it is an achievement,” Tuchel said of reaching the last four.

He knew the line would land flat. “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.”

The nature of that competitiveness, he added, is that the next game still matters, however hollow it feels.

“Nobody of these (England) players, nobody of French players wants to play this match. They want to play in the final. We gave everything to be in the final.

“Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but it is what it is. We have for a day less and to recover, but we will do it professionally, of course.”

The message to his squad after the semi-final was brief. There are no magic words in a dressing room like that.

“I didn’t say a lot (to the players afterwards). Nothing what you say in the dressing room can take away the pain or the disappointment, of course.

“We all know these moments, so I said let’s take it with respect, let’s digest it first. Accept that we gave everything. That is a big part in a defeat.

“Did we do everything to arrive in this semi-final? Did we give everything? 100 per cent we did, and I think the fans will realise that and do realise that.

“The second of all is to bounce back, to react. That’s what you have to do on highest level in sports. It’s what is demanded and what we will do.”

The inquest over his in-game decisions will rage on long after the third-place play-off is done. The FA, though, has already made its call. Tuchel stays. The next judgement will come not in Miami, but on home soil in 2028.