Thomas Tuchel has been back around the Premier League grounds this season, and one exchange he had with a colleague inside a VIP enclosure has doubtless been repeated elsewhere. “People are killing me,” the England manager said. Two months on from England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina in the United States, the emotion tied up in that result continues to swirl.
The reaction divides sharply. One section of the fanbase blames Tuchel for the surrender of a 1-0 lead with five minutes to go, unable to make peace with a glorious opportunity spurned. Others appreciate how his team fought to reach only the fourth World Cup semi-final in England’s history, the personality they showed and the stirring moments along the way: the last-16 win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, the extra-time quarter-final win over Norway, a thriller against Croatia in the opening group game and a third-place playoff victory over France that added up to England’s best World Cup finish since 1966. Tuchel has been bruised by the fallout, and bemused by it too, because semi-finals are not something England reach as a matter of course.
He can draw strength from the Football Association’s faith in him. Perhaps the clearest illustration is that it would not have wanted to get rid of him even had England lost to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 32, a game that went down as one of the most stressful in memory, with England 1-0 down and 15 minutes to go and even Tuchel wondering whether it was the end of his tournament before Harry Kane’s two goals drove the comeback. The FA loved how his in-game changes made the difference, as they did at other stages of the tournament, and it loved the team spirit he oversaw. It stands full square behind him and considers the notion that he ought to have resigned or been sacked after a semi-final finish absurd. Tuchel’s stated mission in the United States had been to put a second star on the shirt, and he fell short. England went in as fourth seeds, and privately the FA worried that punching above their ranking and winning the tournament would be beyond them, especially after a draw that gave them the latest possible start, a long gap between their first and second group matches and then a more condensed schedule.
As for the Argentina defeat itself, Tuchel could not get anything out of his players in a second half in which Argentina dialled up all-out fury, and that is on him. England, though, were physically spent, a consequence of playing at altitude against Mexico with 10 men and for 120 minutes against Norway in Miami in 40C heat. They had started to sink back long before the second-half hydration break, when Tuchel introduced the defender Ezri Konsa for the winger Anthony Gordon and went to a five-man defence. The decision to reinforce, to double down, was a clinical one taken after weighing the available evidence; to Tuchel it felt like the percentage call, maybe the least bad option. It failed, and when it failed the optics were horrible.
Now the focus turns forward. On Friday Tuchel names his squad for the opening four Nations League ties, against Spain at home, Czechia home and away, and Croatia away. England are back in Group A, with the opener against Spain at Wembley next Saturday — a first meeting since the Euro 2024 final defeat. Being in Group B last time, with more straightforward matches against Ireland, Finland and Greece, was damaging, more so than the FA realised, even if Greece at Wembley was not straightforward at all, England losing 2-1. The World Cup qualification group was not too taxing either. The hope is that the Nations League will better prepare England for Euro 2028, when they will be co-hosts, and the FA pushed hard to host alongside Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland for a reason.
Tuchel has numerous selection teasers to work through. He is contending with the probable absence of four World Cup players through injury: John Stones, Dan Burn, Djed Spence and Jordan Henderson. Tino Livramento, Levi Colwill, Jarrad Branthwaite and Lewis Hall are pushing for recalls in defence. Kobbie Mainoo’s place in midfield is in question after a washout of a World Cup, even though he has been good for Manchester United despite their poor start. Alex Scott and Myles Lewis-Skelly are hoping for recalls, as are Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in the No 10 positions. Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke have not restarted well at Arsenal. There is a lot of energy around Josh King and Rio Ngumoha, and ditto Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Liam Delap.
All eyes will be on Tuchel at the announcement, and his tone will be as instructive as anything. Being overly defensive did not work out the last time. The wider question is whether England as a nation can move on from the Argentina defeat, and whether his explanations for his moves during it can be accepted. It feels like an important starting point for the campaign ahead.