Sadly it came to pass that Tuchel’s England experience can only be deemed a failure.
Thomas Tuchel was appointed to deliver what generations of England managers have failed to achieve: a major international trophy.
Instead, after a World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, the Football Association must confront an uncomfortable truth.
The German coach’s methods, selections and tactics have raised serious doubts about whether he is the right man to lead England’s golden generation forward.
The FA must resist the temptation to cling to a prestigious appointment simply because admitting a mistake is difficult.
The message should be clear:
“Thank you, Thomas, but it is time to go.”
A World Cup squad selection that left many scratching their heads
The warning signs appeared before England even kicked a ball.
Tuchel’s squad selection divided opinion, with many questioning why experienced and proven international performers were overlooked.
The decision to leave out Harry Maguire was one of the most controversial. Maguire has repeatedly delivered for England in major tournaments. His leadership, aerial strength and big-game experience have been crucial during England’s recent runs.
Likewise, the omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold raised eyebrows. One of the best creative passers in world football was left out despite England often lacking invention when facing stubborn opposition.
The absence of Adam Wharton was also questioned. The young midfielder’s composure, intelligence and ability to control possession could have provided England with another dimension.
Meanwhile, several players selected by Tuchel, including Kobbie Mainoo, did not feature or had little influence on the tournament.
A World Cup squad is not about collecting talented individuals, it is about creating a balanced group capable of responding to every challenge. Many supporters believe Tuchel failed that test.
England showed character — but Tuchel failed the biggest test
To Tuchel’s credit, England showed resilience during the tournament.
They fought back from behind against DR Congo in the last-32 stage and recovered from adversity against Norway in the quarter-finals.
That character cannot be ignored.
But, as former England captain Alan Shearer pointed out, there is a huge difference between surviving against teams that panic and facing a world-class opponent who has the quality to punish mistakes.
Argentina did not panic.
They believed.
And England paid the price.
“A coaching catastrophe”
The semi-final against Argentina exposed the biggest concern surrounding Tuchel: his instinct to protect rather than attack.
England appeared to have seized control when Anthony Gordon fired them ahead. The stadium erupted. Momentum was with England.
But instead of pushing for the second goal and putting Argentina under further pressure, England retreated.
They invited pressure.
They surrendered territory.
And against a team containing elite talent, that was a dangerous decision.
Former Premier League winner Chris Sutton described Tuchel’s approach as a “coaching catastrophe”, arguing that England could not expect to defend for half an hour against a side of Argentina’s quality.
His question was devastating:
“How can you trust Thomas Tuchel to take this team forward?”
The criticism was not that England defended a lead; game management is essential at international level.
The criticism was that England stopped trying to win.
The defensive changes that changed the game
The moment that frustrated supporters most came after England took the lead.
Many expected Tuchel to introduce attacking players and chase a second goal.
Instead, he turned defensive.
In the 72nd minute, he replaced Gordon with Konsa, switching England into a back five.
Ten minutes later, further defensive reinforcements arrived with Burn and O’Reilly.
Rashford and Toney were eventually introduced, but by then the momentum had shifted.
The message to the players appeared clear: survive rather than compete.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney admitted that when a team is winning, but the manager’s changes signal a defensive approach, players can lose belief.
That is the psychological danger.
A team does not only respond to instructions, it responds to confidence.
England repeated the mistakes of previous eras
The defeat also revived painful memories.
England have suffered against Argentina before, from Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal in 1986 to the heartbreak of the 1998 World Cup.
But this time there was no controversy.
England were beaten because Argentina adapted and England retreated.
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart summed up the difference.
Norway and Mexico had panicked against England.
Argentina did not.
They saw an opportunity, found confidence and exploited England’s passivity.
The Southgate comparisons will not go away
One of the most damaging criticisms is that Tuchel appears to have repeated the very mistakes that previous England managers were criticised for.
Gareth Southgate was frequently accused of becoming too cautious after taking the lead in major matches.
Many supporters believed Tuchel had been appointed to bring a more aggressive, elite mentality.
Yet in the biggest moment of the tournament, England again sat deep and tried to protect a narrow advantage.
Former England defender Micah Richards summed up the frustration:
“When England scored that first goal they should have gone for the second.”
Instead, Argentina were allowed back into the game.
England’s stars deserve better
This is not an ordinary England team.
It contains players of extraordinary ability.
Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, and Elliot Anderson represent a generation capable of winning major honours.
But talent alone is not enough.
The manager must create belief.
Kane himself admitted that England’s reaction after scoring was not good enough:
“When we went 1-0 up we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough.”
Those words should concern the FA.
When the captain of the national team says the mentality changed after scoring, questions must be asked.
England needs a different direction
Tuchel’s supporters will point to his achievements and his improvement on previous tournament performances.
That is fair.
But international football is not just about tactical ability. It is about identity, trust and connection.
The three other semi-finalists all reached that stage with homegrown managers who understood their football culture and national expectations.
The FA must ask whether England really needed another foreign appointment or whether the answer was closer to home.
Because the greatest risk now is wasting a once-in-a-generation squad.
Thomas Tuchel may be an outstanding club coach.
But England does not need another manager who can win battles on a tactics board.
They need a leader who can inspire players to believe they can win the war.
After this World Cup, the FA must be brave enough to admit the truth:
Thomas Tuchel was the wrong appointment. Thank you — but see you.
