Thomas Tuchel has reaffirmed his complete commitment to leading England into Euro 2028 on home soil, brushing aside the anguish of Wednesday's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. The German manager declared himself "100 per cent" focused on the Three Lions project and identified a critical weakness that must be addressed if England is finally to claim a major tournament title after runner-up finishes in the last two European Championships.
Despite surrendering a 1-0 lead with just five minutes remaining against Argentina, Tuchel has secured backing from the Football Association. Chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed the organisation's unwavering support, pledging that Tuchel and his coaching staff will "raise everyone" for the third-place playoff against France before steering qualification toward the home Euros. The manager's new contract, signed in February and covering the next two years, provides structural stability for the long-term project.
The Ball Possession Problem
Tuchel pinpointed a fundamental issue hampering England's tournament performances: a disconnect between the quality displayed in training and execution during high-pressure knockout matches. He highlighted ball possession as particularly troublesome, suggesting it remains foreign to English footballing identity compared to traditional possession-based nations like Spain, Argentina, and Brazil.
"I think ball possession plays a crucial role," Tuchel explained to reporters. "It's maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA." He emphasised that controlling the ball and the tempo of the game represents "a big problem" requiring systematic improvement. The manager's concern extends to England's psychological approach when defending leads—a tendency to sit back rather than impose dominance that must be addressed if the nation is to end its trophy drought.
This pattern emerged starkly following Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute opener against Argentina, when England lost control of proceedings as the opposition mounted pressure. Tuchel had previously criticised the team's display against Norway as "sloppy" and "lucky," suggesting a pattern of underperformance when circumstances demand commanding football.
Looking Toward France and Beyond
England faces France in Sunday's third-place playoff, seeking to finally reverse a curse after defeats in 1990 and 2018. Though disappointed by the semi-final loss, Tuchel stated he has "loved every day" of the campaign and praised his squad's character despite multiple semi-final heartbreaks across the group. He remains confident that identifying and correcting the possession and mental resilience issues will unlock the extra level required to compete for the continent's biggest prize in 2028.
