German coach Thomas Tuchel is already looking ahead to Euro 2028, which will be held on home soil, after England's bitter World Cup exit. But will he need to rebuild his players' trust?

England's coach faced sharp criticism for his defensive substitutions in the 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta, accused of surrendering the initiative to Lionel Messi's team.

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Anthony Gordon put England on course for their first World Cup final since 1966, but two late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez turned the game around in a dramatic finish. Tuchel, the German who was appointed to make bold and decisive decisions in the biggest moments, failed his toughest test as his team collapsed under intense Argentine pressure. Defender Marc Guéhi hinted that England should have continued their attacking approach against the defending champions, saying: "We should have kept going, we should have kept pressing. It seemed like after we scored the goal, the mentality became to drop back and defend." Captain Harry Kane also questioned the team's style but refused to blame Tuchel for match management. Former players and pundits were more outspoken, expressing widespread astonishment at his tactical choices. Former England captain Wayne Rooney told the BBC that the "Three Lions" were "too passive", while ex-England international Chris Sutton described it as a "coaching disaster". Sutton added: "He was negative, so the question I ask is: how can you trust Thomas Tuchel to lead this team forward?" Despite the manner of defeat, indications are that Tuchel still has the support of the English Football Association, which appointed him in October 2024 to succeed Gareth Southgate. FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham said: "To get so close is heartbreaking." He added: "The players and Thomas gave everything today, and the squad, coaches, and support staff could not have worked harder throughout the tournament." He continued: "I would like to thank them all, and also send my sincere thanks to our fantastic fans here in the United States and back home." - Tactical acumen - Tuchel (52), known for his frankness and strong personality, was hired as a distinctive tactical visionary capable of giving England what they needed to cross the line for a major title after a series of painful failures under Southgate, but the 2026 tournament ended in a familiar, sad manner. His initial contract ran until the end of the 2026 World Cup, but he later signed a new deal keeping him in post until Euro 2028, to be held in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The former coach of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich is already looking to the future, despite England still having to play the third-place match against France in Miami on Saturday. He said: "There is still a game we have to play, one we don't look forward to much, but it's still there." He added: "After that, of course, we will continue working. I have a contract that runs until the European Championship on home soil, and I am looking forward to that, although it's hard to think that far ahead right now." England's World Cup camp was largely positive, with the mood highlighted by Tuchel celebrating by dancing with his players after the thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in Mexico City. But the tournament ends frustratingly, and Tuchel must address pressing questions, including defensive problems and over-reliance on striker Harry Kane, who will turn 33 later this month. He also has to convince his players and the entire country that he will make the right decisions in the next crucial moments.