Thomas Tuchel said the vast majority of England fans he has encountered since the World Cup have not focused on the team's semi-final defeat to Argentina, which saw England lose 2-1 after initially taking the lead. The interim England manager stated that nearly all supporters prefer to discuss positive moments from the tournament rather than tactical decisions or substitutions.

Tuchel, who faced criticism for defensive changes late in the match against Argentina that appeared to shift momentum in favor of the opposition, emphasized that fans he speaks with tend to recall the excitement of other matches, such as England’s games against Mexico, Croatia, and DR Congo. “They speak about where they watched the Mexico game, and they speak about the second-half energy of the Croatia match,” Tuchel said. “They speak about how nerve-racking it was to watch our match against DR Congo and where they celebrated. This is the feedback I get. This is what we created, and how it should be.”

When questioned about negative reactions, Tuchel acknowledged some critical commentary between the Argentina semi-final and the third-place playoff, but indicated this mainly came through media and social media channels rather than directly from fans. He expressed confidence in the support from the English public as the team prepares for its upcoming Nations League campaign.

England’s Nations League journey is set to begin next Saturday at Wembley with a home match against reigning world champions Spain. Tuchel announced a 27-man squad that included the surprise recall of right back Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Real Madrid player has been absent from the national team since June 2025 but was brought back following injuries to Reece James, Djed Spence, and Ben White. Cole Palmer also returned to the squad after regaining form and fitness with Chelsea.

Tuchel acknowledged the high quality of the players but stressed the need for them to demonstrate it consistently. Referring to Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel reiterated that defensive discipline remains essential for the former Liverpool man, saying, “He has to, he has to. It is necessary. My conviction is he will but he has no choice.”

The Nations League presents an opportunity for Tuchel to build momentum as he continues to shape the England squad ahead of future competitions.