Danny Murphy claims Thomas Tuchel is lucky to remain England boss

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says Thomas Tuchel is “very fortunate” to remain England manager after the Three Lions’ World Cup exit, a sentiment echoed in a (Credits: Every Second Media/Shutterstock) photo. England reached the semi‑finals this summer but fell 2‑1 to Argentina, leaving the coach under intense scrutiny.

Semi‑final heartbreak against Argentina

The Three Lions had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon early in the semi‑final, but after sitting back they allowed Argentina to press and eventually concede two late goals, handing the South American side a heartbreaking 2‑1 victory.

Murphy argues that England fans are furious with Tuchel’s shift to a cautious, defensive shape, questioning why he withdrew forward players and adopted a strategy opposite to his pre‑tournament promises. The manner of the loss, rather than the defeat itself, has wounded supporters.

Despite the criticism, Murphy says Tuchel could have been dismissed after the World Cup, noting that performances against top teams are the benchmark. He believes the FA will stick with him, pointing to the upcoming Nations League clash with Spain as a key indicator.

England trail Spain but share second‑place odds with France and Germany in Nations League

Murphy adds that even a loss to Spain or Croatia would likely not cost Tuchel his job, as the FA seems more concerned with qualifying for the Euros than with short‑term results. He stresses that England will still face Czechia and Croatia in the league.

Tuchel feels backed and self‑critical

Tuchel himself 99.9 per cent of supporters discuss the excitement of England’s World Cup games rather than tactical minutiae. He says fans talk about the dramatic Mexico round‑of‑16 win, the second‑half surge against Croatia, the nerve‑wracking clash with DR Congo and where they celebrated, describing it as what the team created.

He also praised the full backing of FA decision‑makers, recalling a pre‑Mexico conversation where his bosses told him they understood the unpredictability of World Cup matches and gave him freedom to coach as he saw fit. Tuchel added that critical reviews will stay behind closed doors, that he is his own biggest critic and that reflection and experience are essential to improve.

With the Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia looming, Tuchel remains in charge, and Murphy concludes that the coach’s survival hinges on turning the ‘whimper’ of the World Cup exit into a more assertive performance, a task the former player believes he is lucky to face.