England head coach Thomas Tuchel has said that the very DNA of English football must evolve if the national team is to succeed in winning major international tournaments. He also affirmed that he remains “100 per cent” committed to continuing in his role.

England’s familiar tale of heartbreak continued as their World Cup journey ended in a semi-final defeat to Argentina. The team appeared to be on course for their first final appearance since 1966 when Anthony Gordon gave them the lead in the 55th minute in Atlanta. However, they lost control of the game, eventually succumbing to a 2-1 defeat after late strikes from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.

This was not the first time England have failed to hold onto an advantage in a crucial knockout match. They similarly retreated after taking the lead in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia and in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. A comparable pattern also emerged when they could not capitalise on an equaliser in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.

Tuchel, who replaced Sir Gareth Southgate with the specific brief of leading England to glory in major tournaments, was himself criticised for his tactical approach, particularly for making early defensive substitutions that seemed to invite pressure.

When asked whether England’s football mentality could be changed, Tuchel responded: “If it needs to be changed, then it has to be changed. But I’m not sure — I always try to think in football terms. I haven’t seen the data yet, but I believe that immediately after our goal, the momentum completely shifted in terms of ball possession and chances, and it dropped dramatically.”

He continued: “We became too passive within our structure. My intention with a back five was not to become more defensive, but to be more proactive — to close down spaces quickly and prevent gaps from opening up in the back line. We encouraged the players to step out and be more active, but we struggled. We could no longer win duels, which forced us deeper and deeper — that was never the plan, but it happened.”

Tuchel added: “We needed to get back on the ball. Without possession, you can’t relieve pressure or regain momentum. I think ball possession is crucial. It might not be part of our football DNA in the same way it is for Spain, Argentina, or Brazil — teams that naturally control the game through possession. And that’s a big issue for us.”

The German manager, who replaced goalscorer Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa midway through the second half, has faced significant criticism for that decision. However, Tuchel, whose contract runs until 2028, has received the backing of the Football Association and remains determined to lead England to their home European Championship.

“Yes, 100 per cent. There’s still plenty to improve, and I’m more than happy to work on that,” he said. “I’ve loved every moment of this job. After the Norway game, I mentioned that there’s a gap between how we perform in training and how we play in matches. I believe we can impose ourselves more with the ball.”

He further explained: “I still believe we can show what great footballers we are. I see it every day in training camps and even here at the World Cup. I feel there’s another level we must reach — to take that final step towards winning the biggest prize.”