Tuchel claims England were inches from victory despite semi‑final exit

Thomas Tuchel said he has no regrets over his substitutions after England’s WK‑uitval in the WK‑halve, a match in which the Three Lions lost 1‑2 to a spectacular comeback by Argentinië. He stressed the team gave everything and were "very, very close" to a 1‑0 lead.

In a post‑match interview with the BBC, the German coach broke down the reaction to the defeat.

De Duitse coach admitted his changes on the pitch did not produce the desired effect, labeling the substitutions "unfortunate" while insisting overall decision‑making remained his responsibility.

He emphasized that the squad fought hard and were on the brink of taking the lead, describing the effort as "very, very close" to a one‑goal advantage.

"You can discuss this with a million coaches, but I have to make a decision on the field," Tuchel told the BBC, adding, "I have no regrets. The team gave everything and we deserved a 1‑0 lead."

Tuchel went on to praise England’s performance, calling it one of the better matches the side has played, perhaps the best under the given circumstances, and lauded the squad’s mentality and strength.

He highlighted the challenges the team faced – long travel distances, playing at altitude, coping with heat and even playing with ten men – all of which the side overcame.

Concluding, he said, "We were today very close to victory. It is not the moment to analyse the whole tournament; we are simply out because we lost a crucial match," reiterating his lack of remorse for the tactical choices made.