Thomas Tuchel’s future has been under intense scrutiny after England’s exit from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Argentina.
The German manager’s position as England head coach has become a major talking point across the country following the team’s disappointing semi-final defeat to the South American champions.
The Three Lions appeared to be on course for a place in the final when Anthony Gordon fired them ahead just before the hour mark in that last-four showdown.
However, Enzo Fernandez equalised for Argentina, and Lautaro Martinez struck a heartbreaking stoppage-time winner, with Lionel Messi playing a pivotal role throughout the contest, leaving England to battle for third place instead.
Much of the post-match criticism aimed at Tuchel focused on his tactical decisions after taking the lead, particularly the substitution of goalscorer Gordon for defender Ezri Konsa, a move that saw England drop deeper and deeper towards Jordon Pickford’s goal.
For former England international Danny Murphy, the pattern felt painfully familiar, reminiscent of previous managerial eras.
“It was a terrible performance in the second half,” Murphy said during the BBC’s pre-match coverage of England’s third-place play-off against France. “I think they went out with a whimper rather than on their shields.”
Murphy didn’t mince his words, placing the blame firmly on Tuchel’s shoulders and calling for his dismissal, although he did concede that the German coach would likely retain his position for now.
In comments that seemed to partly reference former England boss Gareth Southgate—who was also known for his cautious tactics—Murphy argued that the national team needed a new direction.
“He’s failed, and he’s failed in the same way we’ve failed before,” the ex-Liverpool midfielder continued. “This is the biggest tournament in the world and he had his chance. As I said, I think he’ll probably get a vote of confidence, but I believe we should make a change.”
Murphy went on to express sympathy for the players, saying: “I think they’ll be devastated. They were so close. They had the game in their hands, they were in control. They’re missing out on the World Cup final tomorrow because of the tactics.”
According to FourFourTwo, Tuchel is expected to remain in charge of England for the next tournament, as there is currently no obvious successor ready to take over.
While Pep Guardiola is currently without a club following his departure from Manchester City—and has previously been linked with the England job—it remains uncertain whether he would want to return to management so soon. Moreover, he too has a reputation for overcomplicating tactics in major knockout games.
Tuchel may have misjudged the semi-final, but once the emotions subside, there could still be positives to take from England’s campaign this summer.
