Thomas Tuchel ‘100%’ wants to continue as England coach for Euro 2028

Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he “100 per cent” still wants to coach England at Euro 2028.

England’s painful 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday night has put pressure on Tuchel, who signed a new contract in February to cover the next two years.

Despite England’s loss — which they led 1-0 with five minutes remaining — Tuchel said afterwards that he does want to take the team forward. “100 per cent,” Tuchel said. “There is still enough to improve, and I am more than happy to do that.”

Tuchel has the Football Association’s full support to continue. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham posted on LinkedIn that “Thomas and the coaches will raise everyone for that and then lead us into qualification for our home Euros in 2028”.

Tuchel said that he had “loved every day” of England’s World Cup campaign, which will end in Miami with the third-place play-off game against France on Saturday. But he believes his team need to “step up to the next level” from here.

“I said after the Norway game that I see a disconnect from what I see in training on a football level, and within the games,” Tuchel said. “I think we can impose ourselves more on the ball. I still think we can show how good football players we are. I think that is still in us, as I see it in training and in every camp. And here also at the World Cup. I still feel there is an extra level that we need to conquer and need to step up to the next level to get the big prize.”

Tuchel attributed England’s defeat to a change in momentum “in ball possession” after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal. And he said that keeping the ball under pressure is not part of England’s DNA.

“I think ball possession plays a crucial role,” Tuchel said. “It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA. To take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem.”

When asked whether it is an English mentality to sit back and defend when ahead in big games, Tuchel said: “If it happens, then it has to be changed.”

Despite the result, Tuchel said that he was happy with his players, some of whom experienced a second semi-final defeat in three World Cups.

“I’m very pleased with them and I enjoyed every single day,” Tuchel said. “And I enjoyed every single minute of the first 55. Because I think we were there, ready to go for it, not be passive and actually go for it and try. We just couldn’t cope with the momentum swing.”