England must sack Thomas Tuchel and replace him with a Eddie Howe, insists eSPORTY’s Jamie O’Hara.
Tuchel has come under intense scrutiny for his tactics in England’s heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
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England were on course for their first World Cup final since 1966 when Anthony Gordon gave them the lead in Atlanta, but the Three Lions tried to hold onto their lead rather than build on it.
And they ultimately paid the price for sitting back as Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez’s late goals turned the tie on its head, sending the reigning world champions into Sunday’s final against Spain.
Tuchel has been heavily criticised for his approach, which included bringing on three defenders with the score still at 1-0.
Ezri Konsa replaced goalscorer Gordon, with Nico O’Reilly coming on for Declan Rice and Dan Burn introduced in place of the injured Reece James.
England had just 12 per cent possession between Gordon’s 55th-minute opener and Martinez’s 92nd-minute winner, as Argentina took maximum advantage to extend the Three Lions’ 60-year wait for World Cup glory.
And for O’Hara, this has to be the end of the road for Tuchel.
‘What’s he done different?’
Discussing the fallout from the game with former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy on eSPORTY’s World Cup Sports Bar, the ex-Tottenham midfielder said: “I’d sack him. Sack him. What do you want him for? What’s he done different to Gareth Southgate?”
Southgate steered England to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years in 2018, when the Three Lions also led before losing 2-1 to Croatia.
Tuchel’s predecessor also guided England to their first major tournament finals since 1966, only for them to lose to Italy at Euro 2020 [held in 2021] and Spain at Euro 2024.
And O’Hara insists it’s time for another change in the dugout, only a year-and-a-half after Tuchel took the job, touting Newcastle boss Eddie Howe to take over.
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“You can go anywhere you want,” he continued. “Eddie Howe.
“Go anywhere. I’d rather an Englishman… If we’re going to lose, I’d rather an Englishman be in charge.”
Current Newcastle boss Howe has long been linked to the England job.
It’s a sentiment also felt by former England striker Michael Owen.
Reacting to a post highlighting how it has always been native coaches that have won the World Cup, Owen said: “There should be no such thing as foreign coaches in international football.”
But O’Hara might not get his wish of getting Howe in.
Tuchel set to stay
The FA have no plans to dismiss Tuchel, eSPORTY understands.
The German’s original contract expired at the end of this World Cup, but he signed an extension in February to keep him at the helm until Euro 2028 โ which is being co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
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