OPINION: England must keep faith in Thomas Tuchel after World Cup heartbreak

Now that the emotion has finally started to settle following England’s disappointing World Cup campaign, the inevitable debate over what went wrong can begin.

Many supporters of the Three Lions had already decided who was responsible for the failure before the final whistle had even blown. However, the reaction towards Thomas Tuchel has highlighted a familiar pattern in English football — one where a manager can go from hero to villain in the space of a single result.

Tuchel went from saviour to scapegoat

The criticism aimed at Tuchel following England’s defeat to Argentina brought back memories of the backlash faced by David Beckham after the 1998 World Cup.

Once again, an individual became the focus of national frustration after a painful elimination.

Yet just days earlier, Tuchel was being praised as the man capable of ending England’s long wait for international success after a stunning victory over Mexico.

That performance was widely regarded as one of England’s finest displays at a major tournament, with Tuchel appearing to have transformed the national team’s mentality almost overnight.

The dramatic swing from admiration to criticism shows just how quickly opinions can change in football.

England’s progress under Tuchel cannot be ignored

Before the World Cup disappointment, England had enjoyed one of their strongest qualifying campaigns in recent memory.

The national team won all eight of their qualifying matches without conceding a goal, including an impressive 5-0 victory away against Serbia.

This is a side built firmly in Tuchel’s image — aggressive, confident, and comfortable dominating possession.

For many supporters, the belief was that England finally had the manager capable of delivering the long-awaited second star on the shirt.

World Cup disappointment should not erase progress

The accusations that followed England’s elimination — including claims of tactical failure or that Tuchel “bottled” the moment — were emotional reactions rather than a fair assessment of the bigger picture.

Yes, losing after being so close to lifting the trophy was painful. However, England still achieved their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.

The manner of defeat will understandably hurt, but dismissing everything achieved before that final setback would be unfair.

There has been clear progress, and England are a more adventurous and fearless team than they have been for years.

Jude Bellingham has flourished under Tuchel

One of the clearest examples of Tuchel’s impact has been the development of Jude Bellingham.

The Real Madrid midfielder has been given the freedom to influence matches in a more advanced role, and that responsibility has brought out the best in him.

His performances at the tournament — including goals and several Man of the Match displays — showed why Tuchel has placed so much faith in him.

The manager has also shown a willingness to select players based on suitability rather than reputation, something England fans have demanded for years.

Big decisions define elite managers

Tuchel’s decision to leave out players such as Cole Palmer and Phil Foden from the final squad was always going to attract debate.

Some supporters may disagree with those choices, but the manager was consistent in his reasoning and remained loyal to his principles.

Unlike previous England managers who were sometimes criticised for choosing players based on name value, Tuchel made difficult decisions based on his tactical vision.

That level of conviction is exactly what many fans have been asking for.

The mentality has changed under Tuchel

A leaked England team talk from Tuchel highlighted his ambition from the beginning — this was not a tournament about simply competing; it was about winning.

The German coach demanded belief from his players and refused to lower expectations, even after impressive victories.

That mentality shift is arguably one of the biggest changes England have experienced in recent years.

The road to Euro 2028

Despite the heartbreak, England’s future remains promising.

The Football Association (FA) has publicly backed Tuchel and confirmed their intention for him to continue in charge until the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament.

That gives the manager time to analyse what went wrong, develop his squad further, and prepare for another opportunity to win silverware on home soil.

The disappointment of falling short at the 2026 World Cup can become motivation rather than a reason for division.

England supporters have every right to feel frustrated — expectations are higher than ever — but patience and perspective are equally important.

Instead of turning against the manager who has brought belief back to the national team, supporters should give Tuchel the chance to finish what he has started.

After all, progress requires more than one tournament. It requires trust.