FA to canvass England players in World Cup review

The Football Association has initiated a post‑tournament review of England’s World Cup performance, planning to canvass the opinions of the players who took part in the competition. English football’s governing body says it conducts this type of assessment after every major international event, and the current exercise follows that established routine. Head coach Thomas Tuchel and members of his back‑room staff were at St George’s Park last week, where they analysed the team’s showing in North America. A broader study of the World Cup run is to be completed at a later date, and Tuchel’s assistants will be interviewed as part of the process, with their feedback incorporated into the review. The involvement of the players adds a notable dimension, given emerging sentiment within the squad that Tuchel’s substitution patterns and tactical choices contributed to the semi‑final loss to Argentina, despite England holding a 1‑0 advantage through Anthony Gordon. BBC Sport reported that, within 24 hours of the match, at least three senior players had privately voiced concerns about Tuchel’s approach in the closing stages of the game. A widely held view among observers was that the coach’s adjustments were overly defensive high up the pitch, which preceded the concession of two late goals and a 2‑1 defeat. The review will also examine the effects of the team’s permanent base in Kansas City, analysing how the travel arrangements after each match may have influenced performance. England secured third place by defeating France in the bronze‑match, marking the nation’s best World Cup finish since winning the trophy in 1966. In light of that result, senior figures at the FA describe the tournament as a success and have expressed continued support for Tuchel ahead of the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. England’s first fixture since the World Cup is a Nations League encounter with Spain on 26 September. The side will also face two matches against the Czech Republic in the same competition, either side of a scheduled game with Croatia, during the forthcoming international window.