Why Thomas Tuchel must stay on as England coach | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel must stay. There’s little point at this stage getting rid, despite the disappointment of the last half hour against Argentina.

On Saturday his team plays the game that no-one wants, the third place play-off, or Bronze match as it’s now called. France won’t want to play any more than we do, and anything less than about seven changes per side is an insult to those who haven’t kicked a ball so far.

Nonethess, there’s an opportunity for Tuchel to start repairing the damage he has caused among England fans with a positive performance and victory over Didier Deschamps, in his final game as France manager.

Here’s why Tuchel must stay.

He must show he can learn from his mistakes

Getting shot of Tuchel now means England will gain nothing from what was an ultimately disappointing World Cup. The Mexico victory aside, Tuchel’s side spluttered and choked, purred occassionally but ultimately never did what he promised in advance they would do.

“We will play better” was a constant refrain, but England never really did for anything more than in patches. And mostly it was standout defensive work more than attacking.

This was Tuchel’s first tournament as an international manager. It is totally different from club management and an environment that demands experience to get the best out of your players and the best job done.

Tuchel must be given the opportunity to right his wrongs. To understand that in a massive game like a World Cup semi-final, going into a low block with half an hour to go, then inventing a low low low block as time ticked on, does not work against the best teams. Against Norway, yes. Against Mexico, yes. But against the likes of Argentina, Spain and France, in a game that really, really matters, then no. They will always have the players to undo you.

He will benefit from this experience

Despite his public protestations that he regrets nothing and would do the same again, Tuchel will know inside that his substitutions against Argentina helped do for his team. Yes Anderson can do better for the first, O’Reilly for the second. Yes players have a responsibility when they are on the pitch to affect the result. But sending on defender after defender after defender was disastrous.

It sent the message to England players to give up attacking and to Argentina that they were being given carte blanche to throw as many men forward as possible without fear of a counter.

This demonstrated a lack of experience and lack, in the crucial moment, of bravery. Surely if that moment arose again, and we hope it does, he will think of this match and act differently.

Tuchel’s an excellent coach

As discussed on this week’s episode of the Road to World Cup 26 podcast, you don’t become a bad coach overnight. Tuchel has won the Champions League, the Bundesliga, FIFA Super Cup, Club World Cup. And more.

He’s clearly a good coach. This was his first international job and first international tournament. It was unchartered territory.

During the group games and knockout stages he showed a command of tactics by changing shape and purpose several times. He and his coach Anthony Barry talked about doing different things at different stages of the game.

When his biggest moment came, he got it wrong. But that’s with hindsight. Had England hung on five more minutes and he’d be taking his team to a World Cup final, the first England appearance in a final since they won it in 1966.

When listening to his reasoning, it is sound. He didn’t tell his side to drop and defend after taking the lead in the 55th minute. But he realised that Argentina stepped it up massively after Anthony Gordon’s goal, and England were under the cosh.

So instead of throwing on an attacker, on came Ezri Konsa, a centre back. It made sense at that time.

The next subs didn’t as Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly replaced Declan Rice and Reece James. Suddenly England had only three attack minded players on the pitch. When the equaliser went in, it was as good as game over.

But his justification for doing what he did made sense. On another day it might have worked just as throwing on three attackers might have won the game or left England so exposed they lost it by two or three. Small margins.

He’s the right man for the job

If the FA deemed him the right man before the tournament then given where he took England he still is. And he still has the backing of the FA.

England didn’t get knocked out in the group stages or round of 32. They did better than Germany or the Netherlands. They achieved the same as France, the tournament’s favourites. They did better than 44 other teams in the competition.

You may argue they did par, being seeded fourth. But the games against Mexico and Norway were tough games that through resilience and skill they found a way through.

Team spirit was excellent, togetherness in the squad as good as its ever been. That was evident but the performance of the substitutes and attitudes of those who didn’t play. Tuchel spoke about creating a “brotherhood” and he appears to have done exactly that.

Now is the time to see what Tuchel’s made of

He’s had his experience of his first international tournament. Of working with a set squad couped up in a hotel. Of living in each other’s pockets in a tight environment. He will have learned a lot.

Maybe about why four of his 23 outfield players barely got a look in. About why he didn’t make use of his full squad. About the players he left behind. About taking players who spent much of the season injured. He will know now what it takes and what it needs.

Tuchel said England would play aggressive, front-foot football. They didn’t really. He said England would play better against better teams. They didn’t really. He promised England a second star. In truth he came nowhere near.

Yes the FA can get rid and start all over again. New coach, new backroom staff, new ethos, new players, new cycle. Start again. Two years wasted. Short term thinking.

Or England can trust Tuchel to learn from his experience, to build on what worked and improve what didn’t, and let him have a crack at the European Championships in 2028, which is played on English soil. That’s the sensible route to take.