Thomas Tuchel: England ‘built more than we can lose in 30 minutes’ at World Cup

By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer, Miami

Thomas Tuchel believes England have built something that outweighs their World Cup semi-final collapse to Argentina as he seeks to gain trust ahead of the home Euros.

The inquest into Wednesday’s agonising 2-1 loss to the reigning champions has been intense, with the experienced coach’s negative approach after going ahead backfiring.

England impressively managed to drag themselves off the canvas in the heat and humidity of Miami, where heartbroken players secured an astonishing 6-4 victory against France in the third-place play-off.

That his the nation’s best men’s World Cup finish since winning the trophy in 1966 as a day that began with some boos for Tuchel ended with a bronze medal.

“I don’t think we lost the trust, or me… I don’t think I lost the trust,” the England boss said of the fanbase.

“Whatever happened in these 30 minutes against Argentina, or maybe 45 minutes in the second half, where we became too passive, why it happened, whatever happened in the last 10 minutes, we were close.

“But it’s my job to take decisions. My interventions, my substitutions. The change of structure did not have the effect I wanted to, so I have to live with this.

“It’s very painful for me because I did it in good faith and with a clear plan and a clear idea behind it. It didn’t work out so I take the blame and, of course, the responsibility.

“But I strongly believe we built more in this World Cup than we can lose in 30 minutes, and me personally in a decision that turns out not to be effective.

“The pain will stay with me, first and foremost. The scar will stay with me and with the players, and no one else.

“In the end, we need to win the trust on not a daily basis in international football but in seven, eight weeks. We’re back together. it’s Nations League, we need to gain the trust and rebuild the trust.

“You have it, but it’s never a given so this is anyway normal in high-level sport that you have to prove yourself. You have to prove a point every single time when you compete.”

Tuchel’s team open their Nations League campaign in late September against Spain, who face Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final and triumphed in their last meeting with England.

That 2-1 win in Berlin was Sir Gareth Southgate’s second straight European Championship final defeat, having lost the previous edition on penalties to Italy at Wembley.

The Euro 2028 final will be played under the arch, with Tuchel set to stay for a tournament he approaches on an even keel despite intense criticism in recent days.

“The press conference (on Friday) felt as if we went out in group stage without a win, to be very honest, and 24 hours later we have the biggest success in 60 years,” he said.

“So, take the low not too low and the high not too high is what we try. I think the low and the drama about what happened against Argentina was too low but, listen, that’s part of it.

“The best thing you can do is react on the pitch and get the next win. Everything else is just talking, and talking doesn’t get you points and wins.

“So, you have to endure it, hold it, be strong and keep believing. I am glad we showed the reaction. We wanted that reaction and it is very impressive.”