Thomas Tuchel has addressed the fierce criticism he received for his substitution decisions during England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, revealing he has received continued support from the Football Association through a series of post-tournament reviews.
England were beaten by Argentina in Atlanta after holding a 1-0 lead deep into the match, only to concede twice in the closing stages. Tuchel's defensive changes as his side tried to protect their advantage drew widespread public criticism at the time, but the German says that scrutiny has not shaken the FA's confidence in him.
Asked about how conversations with his employers had gone since the tournament, Tuchel struck a light-hearted tone. "I got told off, of course, for the substitutions that I made. Just joking," he said.
The head coach explained that England had undertaken multiple review sessions following the World Cup, a process he acknowledged is uncommon at club level due to time constraints, but one he views as essential for growth. "We had several reviews, which is good to do, which is a bit unusual to do because you don't have the time in club football to do so many reviews, but it's a part of moving forward and it's a part of learning," Tuchel said. He described the sessions as emotionally varied, noting: "It's sometimes painful, sometimes emotional, sometimes beautiful, because people speak up and they speak about situations, about moments that you had not so high on your priority list that meant a lot to them."
Despite the intensity of the debriefs, Tuchel was clear that he never doubted his position throughout the tournament. He recalled a particularly meaningful exchange with FA officials before England's group match against Mexico, in which he was reassured that the governing body remained fully behind him regardless of results. "There was a very special moment before the Mexico game where we had a talk, and my bosses told me, 'We know anything can happen in a football match, and we know anything can happen in a match in Mexico in a World Cup match. But don't worry, we see what's going on, and we want to continue like this'," he revealed. He described the moment as liberating, saying it allowed him to coach with freedom and conviction, adding there was "never a doubt" in either his mind or that of his bosses about their continued partnership.
Tuchel also stressed that he remains his own harshest critic and views reflection as a necessary part of coaching development, though he indicated that the more pointed internal assessments would remain private.
On the topic of fan reaction, Tuchel suggested the criticism over tactics has been limited mostly to media and pundit circles rather than supporters themselves. "Like 99.9 per cent of the fans don't speak about substitutions, tactical twists, and tactical things," he said, pointing instead to memorable moments such as the win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, an energetic second-half display against Croatia, and a tense late comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo as what fans have taken away from the tournament.
Looking ahead, Tuchel's focus now shifts to the Nations League, which begins with a clash against World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on September 26, before England enter qualification for the 2028 European Championships as co-hosts. The coach declined to discuss long-term ambitions tied to the 2030 World Cup, noting his contract runs only through the next Euros. "The target is to finish the cycle of the Nations League, try to win it and build on what we have," he said, adding that he considers the current phase a continuation rather than a fresh start. "We build on a solid and very valuable foundation and the target is to win the home Euros, of course."
Based on reporting from Standard Football.