FA stands by Tuchel after World Cup semi-final loss
Thomas Tuchel retains the backing of the Football Association after England’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final. England squandered a 1-0 lead late on, and Tuchel was criticised for his substitutions.
The German says he intends to stay and lead the Three Lions into Euro 2028. He is under contract with the FA until summer 2028.
Rooney backs Tuchel but names one alternative
Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes the FA should stick with Tuchel unless a move for Pep Guardiola is possible. “I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
Rooney called Guardiola a top-class manager who learns from mistakes and improves. “I think he is a top-class manager and what the top managers do, they learn from the mistakes and they improve and get better,” he said.
“If we sack him, what managers are we going to bring in? And I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola,” Rooney said. He noted Tuchel’s lack of World Cup experience mirrored the earlier situation with Fabio Capello.
“The big thing for me is he’s not experienced at World Cups. We had the exact same with Capello,” Rooney said. “The World Cup is different and you need to feel that environment and now he’s felt it.”
Contract situation and original mandate
Tuchel was appointed in January 2025 on an 18-month mission to win the World Cup. He signed a two-year contract extension in February.
He is now under contract with the FA until summer 2028. The FA approached Guardiola before appointing Tuchel, with reports of a verbal agreement in place.
Rooney questioned the timing of the extension given the stated goal. “I think the FA told us that Thomas Tuchel was coming in to win the World Cup and take us to the next level,” he said.
“It’s a little bit strange if its priority was to win the World Cup, but then you get a two-year contract before you actually go to the World Cup. That’s a bit strange.”
Squad selection draws criticism
Rooney also faulted Tuchel’s 26-man World Cup squad. The selection left out Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton.
Instead, Jordan Henderson, Trevoh Chalobah and Ivan Toney were selected. Rooney believes having players who are just “happy around the camp” was detrimental to England’s chances.
“I think he’s made mistakes with the squad selection,” Rooney said. “You can’t expect to win a World Cup and have a squad that is just happy and happy around the camp.”
“You need debate, you need players to, you know, have conversations and not agree with you. You need players with their own personalities, their own opinions, their own character to question the manager at times.”
Rooney said top managers welcome that challenge. “Top managers like that, they like that, then you can debate it. So, yes, I think looking back, he’ll have regrets,” he said.
“But I still think he’s as good as any manager out there to lead us into the next tournament, in my opinion.”