Thomas Tuchel has accepted responsibility for England’s semi-final defeat while insisting he does not regret the decisions he made during the closing stages of the match. Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s third-place play-off against France in Miami, the England head coach said: “If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility.”
England were minutes away from reaching their first men’s World Cup final for 60 years, only for a 1-0 lead to turn into a 2-1 defeat in the closing stages as Lionel Messi’s world champions applied relentless pressure. Tuchel acknowledged his side became “too passive” in the latter stages, a view he said remained unchanged after reflection. “Asked about the last 35 minutes, I felt the same way — that we were too passive,” he said.
The German head coach defended his in-game decisions, stating he had trusted his instinct, intuition and experience in attempting to help his team hold on. “I would regret if I didn’t help. I would regret if we didn’t react,” he said, adding that he had sensed momentum shifting during the match and tried to respond accordingly. He also pointed to the physical toll of the Mexico and Norway games as a factor in how his players coped in the final stages.
On the question of captain Harry Kane dropping so deep, Tuchel was direct: “That’s what you do if you defend in a block.” He was equally firm in defending his squad’s character, saying their team spirit should not be questioned, while conceding there remains a gap between England and the top teams — one he is determined to close.
Tuchel, who was appointed England manager in January 2025 on a contract running through to Euro 2028, described the result as “the scar we carry now” but made clear he had no interest in a blame game. “I’m not willing to engage in this kind of game,” he said.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
