Under scrutiny after England’s heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, Thomas Tuchel has insisted he has “no regrets” over his tactical approach and made it clear that public criticism will not shape his future decisions.

England’s hopes of reaching their first men’s World Cup final since their 1966 triumph were dashed, prompting a wave of soul-searching over familiar failings on the global stage.

Appointed as Sir Gareth Southgate’s successor to transform England from perennial contenders into champions, Tuchel’s team faltered after taking a 55th-minute lead on Wednesday, as Argentina staged a dramatic late rally to win 2-1.

Despite a disappointing second half and grim statistics, Tuchel remained firm ahead of Saturday’s third-place play-off against France, having had two days to reflect on the defeat.

“I see it the same way,” the England manager said when asked if his opinion on the performance had changed. “We became too passive, that’s clear to me.”

“If you’re asking whether I regret my decisions, then the answer is no. I don’t regret them, because I believed we had become too passive.”

“I sensed the momentum shifting in the game and wanted to help the team. I made decisions based on instinct, intuition, experience, and competitiveness, all to support the players and influence the result.”

“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, and I take full responsibility for those choices. But those are decisions made under pressure, in real time — that’s part of live coaching.”

“I would only have regrets if I had failed to act or respond. But I do not regret the decisions themselves.”

Tuchel’s remark came after he brushed off criticism from United States President Donald Trump — quipping, “Do you use Donald Trump as your witness for the case or…?” — setting an uneasy tone for a tense press conference.

The England boss also spoke about the “scar” that he and his players will “have to live with” and refused to take part in any “blame game”, even as critics questioned the Football Association’s decision to extend his contract by two years before the tournament.

Tuchel retains the FA’s backing and reaffirmed after the Argentina loss that he is “100 per cent” committed to leading England into the home European Championships in 2028.

When asked whether shifting fan sentiment could affect his stance, he replied, “I prefer to form my own view.”

“It’s quite a strong statement from you to say half the country is against me and that the nation is divided. Let’s see if that really happens. I have nothing more to add… what is the question again?”

Pressed further on whether fan discontent might influence his decision to stay, Tuchel was emphatic: “No, it can never change my thinking about continuing.”

This marks a sharp contrast with his predecessor Southgate, who stepped down after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, repeatedly stating that he didn’t wish to outstay his welcome.

Tuchel, however, remains determined to continue his mission as England look to narrow the gap with Sunday’s World Cup finalists and their upcoming opponents, France.

“The gap exists because of the titles that Argentina, France, and Spain have achieved as national teams — it reflects what they’ve built over many years with consistent coaching and development,” Tuchel explained.

“There’s still a small gap we must close. It shows in the expectations those nations have — to win the World Cup and reach finals. We demanded that of ourselves too; we dreamt of it, fought for it, competed for it. But there’s still work to do in learning how to perform under pressure and assert ourselves at the very highest level.”