Tuchel's England tenure not over despite World Cup failure, says

Alan Shearer has defended Thomas Tuchel's position as England manager despite the team's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, arguing that the German coach should be given time to learn from his mistakes and lead the team into the 2028 European Championship.

Tuchel, who took charge in January 2025 on a contract that ran until this summer, signed a two-year extension in February and is set to guide England as co-hosts of Euro 2028. However, his failure to deliver the World Cup title—a goal he himself set out—has drawn criticism after England squandered a lead against Argentina.

Shearer: Tuchel got it wrong against Argentina

Writing in his column, Shearer said Tuchel's tactical decisions in the semi-final were costly. “He got things wrong with the way we retreated after scoring and his substitutions did not help,” Shearer wrote. “It was extremely frustrating to watch, especially because I felt we had such a good chance of reaching our first World Cup final in 60 years.”

Shearer noted that Tuchel's defensive approach, which had worked earlier in the tournament—such as when England played with 10 men against Mexico or in the closing stages against Norway—backfired against a world-class Argentine side. “When you give that much possession away to a very good team for so long, and give that much freedom to the little genius Lionel Messi, then he is going to cause damage—and he did,” Shearer added.

Tuchel's future and the need for reflection

Despite the disappointment, Shearer believes Tuchel should remain in charge. “Just because Tuchel did not deliver does not mean his time should be up,” he wrote. Shearer pointed to Tuchel's experience and past success, arguing that the manager will reflect on the defeat and adjust his methods. “I don't think he is naive enough not to realise that what has happened at this tournament is going to increase the scrutiny on him going forward, and I don't believe any of the criticism he has faced will faze him either.”

Shearer advised against reading too much into Tuchel's immediate post-match comments, where he said he did not regret his approach. “Everything is very raw, whether you are a manager or a player, especially after a defeat that hurts as much as that one will,” Shearer wrote. “It will be better to speak to him in a few weeks' time to see what his opinions are, then wait for England's next games to see where he has learned and improved.”

Positives from the tournament

Shearer also highlighted the positives from England's campaign, singling out the last-16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium as his most memorable moment. “It was the best game of the tournament, at the best stadium and with the best atmosphere,” he said. “I don't think I've ever witnessed togetherness or team spirit like that before. That's why I described it as the best team performance I've seen from any England side in my lifetime, particularly away from home.”

England's World Cup run ended in the semi-finals, matching their performance under Gareth Southgate in 2018 and 2022. Tuchel now faces increased scrutiny as he prepares the team for Euro 2028, where England will co-host the tournament.