Thomas Tuchel wasn’t appointed to be a better version of Southgate – now England stars know the German is no messiah

THE question should not be whether Thomas Tuchel will stay on as England manager. He has no intention of leaving and the FA are too invested in the man to whom they prematurely gave a new two-year contract before the World Cup. The question that needs to be asked is SHOULD he stay on? On the most basic level, despite the frustrations and angst of Wednesday’s defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, Tuchel cleared the bar. Getting to another semi-final was a signal the Three Lions have become a major footballing power. In the last three World Cups, they have reached two semis and a quarter-final and were beaten finalists at Euro 2020 and 2024. READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP That is German — well, old German — levels of consistency. But Tuchel wasn’t employed to be a better version of Sir Gareth Southgate — even if he did criticise the Euro 2024 near-miss in an interview last year that was being widely shared by angry England fans. In the clip, the German noted: “They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win it.” He was recruited to be the man to take England beyond the final step, not just up to the front door. Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS England ratings vs Argentina: Kane quiet when it matters most but Spence shines ENGLAND’s bid to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 ended in a heartbreaking, yet predictable, defeat to Argentina. Thomas Tuchel’s side suffered a devastating 2-1 defeat to Lionel Messi and Co at the Atlanta Stadium this evening. Anthony Gordon sent the travelling Three Lions fans into a state of ecstasy in the 53rd minute when he ghosted in at the back post to tap the ball home inside the 18-yard box. England tried to protect their lead as Thomas Tuchel made a host of defensive substitutions. And they inevitably sat way too deep, allowing Enzo Fernandez to rifle the ball past Jordan Pickford in the 85th minute with a rocket from outside the 18-yard-box. England were shell-shocked and never looked like holding out until extra-time. And super-sub Lautaro Martinez was at hand to break Three Lions fans’ hearts across the globe with a free header at the back post in the 92nd minute. Here is how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England stars’ performances on a dismal day in Atlanta… And the manner of England’s exit, the sense of drift and inertia, the reversion to all the old flaws and failings we have seen time and time and time again, means the question does have to be asked. Going out at the hands of Lionel Messi is not a badge of shame. Most of the world’s best sides — club and country — have bowed to his genius. But England did not go out with fire and fury, giving it everything and not getting the rub of the green. Had it been that sort of titanic evening, reminiscent of the defeat to Argentina in Saint-Etienne 28 years ago, the feelings would be different. Instead, they exited the World Cup with barely a whimper, Tuchel’s tactical negativity inviting the pressure that they simply could not withstand. Not for 35 minutes plus ten of injury time following Anthony Gordon’s goal. The bigger issue surely is that the myth, the aura, the belief in the German may no longer exist. Not among the players, possibly. They have peeked behind the curtain and seen the Wizard is not all-powerful, that he has all the weaknesses of his predecessors. Certainly not among the fans, who came to the USA believing England were in the hands of a managerial Messiah. When England went out under Sven-Goran Erikson, Roy Hodgson and Southgate, dropping deep, inviting the opposition to play with them like a cat toying with a mouse, it wasn’t by design. They wanted to play better football but were simply not capable. Yet in Atlanta it was unquestionably the manager’s choice. His changes meant there was no threat, no outlet, no alternative other than to hope they could hold on. Against Mexico, possibly. Against Messi and Co… Tuchel admitted: “I feel there is an extra level we need to conquer and step up to get the big prize. “I see a disconnect from what I see in training and within games. “Ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like the Spanish, Argentinian or Brazilians. “It takes time and you have to bounce back and that’s what high-level sport demands. That’s basically the next step.” So, what is next? If the FA were really brave, the phone call would be made to the man whose love of English football intensified over his decade in Manchester and is now free. Imagine what Pep Guardiola would do with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and the rest. Yet unless there is an unlikely change of hearts and minds, it will be ‘one more heave’. The Wembley view is Tuchel has earned the right to have another crack. He has lost only one competitive match, against the game’s greatest player, in the World Cup semis — when they were six minutes from going through. Euro 2028 will largely be played on English soil. Yet this WAS the big chance and Tuchel, far more than Southgate ever did, blew it because he lacked the courage of his convictions. Between now and the Euros, despite England’s first game this season seeing Spain come to Wembley in the Nations League, none of it really matters. Qualification is a given. Yet will there be any more evidence to determine how they will deal with the real moments of crisis and doubt? If anything, the evidence is that it will be rinse and repeat. And that is not enough.