The Football Association has no intention of dismissing Thomas Tuchel in the wake of England's agonising World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, according to talkSPORT.
Tuchel's original contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the tournament, but the German signed a two-year extension through to Euro 2028 back in February. While a performance clause exists in his deal that would allow the FA to part ways with him, it will not be triggered at this stage.
The defeat to Argentina marked just England's third loss in 21 matches under Tuchel's stewardship, but the manner of it will sting for years to come. The Three Lions were on the verge of reaching their first World Cup final in 60 years before everything unravelled in devastating fashion during the closing stages.
Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, tapping home a cross from Morgan Rogers on the right side. Yet as the clock wound down, England retreated deeper and deeper while Argentina patiently circulated possession and probed the English backline with relentless intent.
The defending champions broke through in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez unleashed a sensational curling strike from outside the box. Just seven minutes later, Lautaro Martinez twisted the knife further, heading home at the back post from a Lionel Messi cross to complete a stunning turnaround.
Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney were introduced in a desperate last-gasp effort, but it proved futile. England have now reached the semi-finals in four of the last five major tournaments yet continually fallen short of ultimate glory.
Tuchel's Substitutions Under Fire
Much scrutiny has fallen on Tuchel's tactical decisions after taking the lead. Goalscorer Gordon was withdrawn in the 72nd minute for defender Ezri Konsa, before Declan Rice and Reece James were both replaced in the 82nd minute by Nico O'Reilly and Dan Burn. The moves shifted England into a back five, a formation designed to provide defensive solidity but one that sacrificed attacking threat.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT after the match, Tuchel stood by his decisions. "No, I don't regret it," Tuchel said. "It doesn't help if you regret anything. You take the decision in the moment. Anyway, the focus on any structure is, in hindsight, itself makes no sense."
He added: "But the structure itself is just a structure. The important thing is that you put it to life and that you stay aggressive. You can defend crosses in a 4-4-2. We didn't. That's why I tried to help with a back five. But it was also, again, difficult. So we tried in a 5-4-1 to have at least two players. So that was even more deep."
Agbonlahor Brands Tuchel a 'Coward'
Three-time England international Gabby Agbonlahor delivered a scathing verdict on talkSPORT's Sports Breakfast, labelling Tuchel a "coward" for his approach.
"We brought Thomas Tuchel in, paid him £8 million a year, got rid of Gareth Southgate to get us over the line in these big moments, these big decisions, positivity," Agbonlahor said. "Gareth Southgate did fantastic, but he didn't have what it took to get us to the final of the World Cup or win a World Cup."
Agbonlahor was particularly critical of Gordon's removal: "For Thomas Tuchel to go one goal ahead and straight away take off our only quick player on the pitch, Anthony Gordon, who can get us up the pitch, go to five at the back and not see that if you go into five at the back, you need a get-out ball, which we didn't have."
He continued: "Rogers, Bellingham, Kane on their feet, shattered. How can you go to five at the back, but don't win a header? How can you allow Enzo Fernandez on his own, but all our players are stood in our own box trying to defend, as if we've got Peter Crouch and Jan Koller?"
On the second goal, Agbonlahor added: "2v1 against Messi, O'Reilly and Spence. It was too easy, gets the cross in. Dan Burn has been brought on to be the lion of a defender, like he did against Mexico. He stood on the near-post space, marking nobody. Lautaro Martinez is in between Stones and Konsa, and nobody's marking him. We didn't deal with any crosses in the second half, but don't want to blame the players. Our manager is a coward, simple as that."
Agbonlahor demanded Tuchel's dismissal: "Tuchel has to go. When we are paying £8 million for a foreign coach to come in and win our first trophies since 1966, and that's what he does in a semi-final for an Argentinian side that were there for the taking, and to do what he did, 10 times worse than anything Southgate's ever done negatively. I'm sorry, he has to go. Simple as that. The FA have to make a decision, and I just didn't like his interview, the arrogance of his interview, no regrets. Yes, you have got regrets."
Despite the fury from pundits and fans alike, the FA appear content to let Tuchel continue in the role. The German must now wait another two years before his next opportunity to end England's long trophy drought at Euro 2028.