England recovering from FIFA World Cup semifinal heartbreak: Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel led England to its best World Cup performance since 1966. | Photo Credit: AP

England manager Thomas Tuchel said that his side was beginning to get over the heartbreak of losing a FIFA World Cup semifinal after his side’s 7-0 demolition of Croatia in the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 on Saturday.

Tuchel’s side was minutes away from qualifying for its first World Cup final since 1966 after taking the lead against Argentina in the semifinal, but conceded twice in the final five minutes to fall to defeat.

However, his side performed strongly despite suffering a 2-3 defeat to Spain in its first match after the semifinal, and put up a vibrant attacking display against Croatia on Saturday.

Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scored braces, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers all found the net as well.

“I’ve said many times, we will always have a scar, we will always feel pain and disappointment. That is the way it is but this is the way to move forward,” Tuchel said after the match.

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“We adjusted some stuff after some things after the World Cup and we played in the same manner in all three matches.

“We are getting better at it and the team buys into it, this is the most important.”

“This is the only way to move forward, even if you still feel pain. You have to play with the pain if you still feel the disappointment, you have to play with it, that is the nature of sport,” Tuchel said.

“It was not an easy camp in the beginning after this long tournament for multiple reasons. But it was excellent from the first training session.

“To bring it within these circumstances in Croatia, to win with this dominant performance, that is the way to move on.”