FA to Consult England Players in World Cup Campaign Review

The Football Association will seek feedback from England players as part of its review of the national team’s World Cup campaign. BBC Sport reports that the governing body has begun the standard assessment it conducts after every major international tournament, with a wider report on England’s performance due to be delivered later.

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Head coach Thomas Tuchel and members of his backroom staff attended St George’s Park last week to examine the campaign. Members of the tournament squad are also expected to be interviewed, allowing their views to form part of the FA’s evaluation of England’s run to third place in North America.

The consultation follows England’s 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina. England led through Anthony Gordon before conceding twice late in the match. According to BBC Sport, at least three senior players privately raised concerns in the 24 hours after the loss about Tuchel’s approach during the closing stages.

The reporting says there was a view among members of the squad that the substitutions and tactical setup became too defensive late in the game. Those concerns will now sit within the broader review rather than being treated as its sole focus. The FA has described the exercise as routine, consistent with its process after previous tournaments.

The review will also consider the effect of England’s permanent base in Kansas City. The squad returned there after every match, so officials will assess how the resulting travel affected the team across the competition. England recovered from the semi-final loss to beat France in the bronze-medal match, securing their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.

Senior FA figures regard the campaign as a success and have backed Tuchel ahead of qualifying for Euro 2028, BBC Sport reports. England’s first match since the World Cup is scheduled to be a Nations League game against Spain on September 26. The next international window also includes two matches against the Czech Republic, with a meeting against Croatia between them.