Advertisement
World Cup: Tuchel stands by approach as England targets third place against France
18th July, 2026 11:08 AM
England manager Thomas Tuchel has backed the decisions he made during his team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal defeat, stressing that the Three Lions remain committed to “close the gap” between themselves and the world’s top football nations.
Speaking after England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina, Tuchel acknowledged concerns over his team’s cautious display in the closing stages of the match. The German tactician has come under fire for his defensive tactics that saw the Three Lions fail to reach the World Cup final at the hands of the reigning world champions.
“I view them in the same way – that we were too passive,” he told reporters on Friday, July 17, 2026.
No regrets!
Despite the criticism, Tuchel maintained that he had no regrets about changing to a five-man defense. “I don’t regret my decisions. I took several decisions trusting my instinct, my intuition and my experience… I would regret it if I didn’t help, if we didn’t react.”
Tuchel also accepted full accountability for England’s elimination. “If someone takes the blame, I take the blame,” he said. “I am the head coach. I will not engage in the ‘blame game’ because for me there is no one to blame. We feel the most pain of all, and it is our scar that we carry now.”
He explained that his players had been physically drained, allowing Argentina to take control in the latter stages. “The players literally gave everything physically. Argentina found another gear… they have the experience of winning titles together. This came into play.”
Measuring character
With England preparing to face France in Saturday’s third-place playoff, Tuchel believes the encounter will measure his squad’s character and determination.
“Nobody wants to be in this game tomorrow, but it is a chance to have the best result in 60 years for England,” Tuchel said. “We have a gap to close. France, Spain and Argentina expect to win; we are still dreaming and pushing. But we will not stop hunting.”
