England's best World Cup for 60 years - but how should it be judged?

Third place is England's best finish at a men's World Cup since they won the tournament on home soil in 1966

• Published11 minutes ago

What a way to finish.

Saturday's thrilling, and at times ridiculous, 6-4 win against France in the 'bronze final' means England's men secured their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament 60 years ago.

The Three Lions started this tournament ranked fourth in the world and ended with a third-place finish - reaching the semi-finals for just the third time since 1966.

But amid reports of in-squad disagreements over manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics and a second-half semi-final collapse against Argentina, how should their 2026 campaign be viewed?

Has their second-best World Cup ever been under-appreciated? Or was this another missed opportunity?

• False nines or firing forwards - England's potential life after Kane

  • Published13 hours ago

• More games, more controversy - good and bad of biggest World Cup yet

  • Published15 hours ago

'A bitter disappointment... the same old story'

This may have been England's best World Cup for 60 years, but at best it was par for the course and at worst a failure.

It is being judged as exactly what it was. A bitter disappointment.

Head coach Tuchel was brought in to get over the barriers that have blocked England at World Cups before, so this was simply the same old story when they went out to Argentina in the semi-final.

Tuchel, for all the knockout expertise during his club coaching career, failed when the pressure was on.

And there was an added layer of disappointment that Tuchel and England's players contributed so much to their own downfall with such a passive strategy against Argentina that led to defeat.

This is why, when this World Cup is reviewed - both now and in the future - it will be regarded as a disappointment, another major tournament when England once again fell short when it mattered.

• From Southgate to Tuchel - has anything changed?

  • Published2 days ago

• Effort, spirit and moments - but do England lack all-round quality?

  • Published1 day ago

What is mood and spirit in camp like after semi-final loss?

As you can imagine, the England camp was pretty deflated after the heart-breaking semi-final loss. Such setbacks take a while to overcome.

Tuchel has spoken often about the "brotherhood" within the camp - they've had to lean on that connection in recent days. There was a genuine belief that this was their time.

To have the chance to play in a World Cup final snatched from you in that fashion will take a while to digest.

Speaking at half-time during the third-place play-off against France, assistant manager Anthony Barry said: "They're playing a game with broken hearts. I see 11 lads on the field with broken hearts."

There are also misgivings about how Tuchel set up the team during the closing stages of the loss to Argentina.

Tuchel's substitutions and tactical switches were deemed too defensive by certain players in the camp - and that has given members of the squad something to discuss privately in recent days.

What about Tuchel's future?

In the moments immediately after the Argentina game, the Football Association quickly re-affirmed its backing of Tuchel.

As things stand the intention is for the German to remain in charge for Euro 2028. As always there will be an end-of-tournament review where you'd imagine the defeat by Argentina will be discussed.

But you do wonder if player discontent at his perceived defensive tweaks in that semi-final loss and the angry fan reaction changes the direction of travel.

Tuchel was booed by supporters in Miami when his name was read out before kick-off before the France game. The anger towards Tuchel from supporters is still raw, of course.

But if it doesn't quell - then you wonder what impact that may have on the FA's thinking.

Who has come out of World Cup with credit?

No surprises that Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham get a mention. They dragged England through some games - the wins over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway come to mind.

Without them would England have got as far as the semi-finals?

Real Madrid's Bellingham ended the tournament with seven goals, one ahead of Kane, but attentions will already start to turn to the next World Cup.

Will Bayern Munich striker Kane, who will be 36 by the 2030 tournament, have one more World Cup finals in him?

An honourable mention should also go to Djed Spence. The Tottenham full-back followed up a decent performance against Norway with another against Argentina, which included a goal-saving challenge to stop Giuliano Simeone that left many asking: was that the tackle of the tournament?

Both Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka ended the World Cup with three assists each, but did we really see the best of Saka?

At 24 there will be more World Cups to come for the Arsenal winger. But once again England depart a World Cup disappointed.

It will be 64 years since they last won it when the tournament in Morocco, Portugal and Spain comes around in 2030.

Are we any closer to knowing what England need to improve to win Euro 2028?

England have to find the management and mentality to somehow take themselves somewhere they have never been since 1966.

Tuchel built a side in a Premier League image with lots of physicality and moulded around their two world-class players - Bellingham and Kane.

As yet, however, there is no clear idea or pattern of how they can reshape quickly ahead of Euro 2028 and actually win a tournament.

And, of course, they will face France and Spain at those Euros.

Tuchel needs to find a way to make England more potent and resilient, less one-dimensional, and he will be able to draft in the emerging, brilliant talents of Liverpool's 17-year-old forward Rio Ngumoah and Arsenal's Max Dowman, only 16.

The head coach did appear to let the handbrake off against France on Saturday (admittedly in a game with little pressure) and his rejigged side proved they can dazzle in attack with their six-goal display.

Nevertheless, clouds still hang over how England solve this puzzle after another failure - and the pressure is on Tuchel to come up with the answers.

Related topics

• Football
• FIFA World Cup 2026

More on this story

• How did England players rate during the World Cup?

  • Published1 hour ago