Djed Spence has revealed that England's players are 'very keen' to continue working with Thomas Tuchel beyond the World Cup, despite the manager facing criticism after the team's semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Tuchel's contract and pressure
Tuchel is under contract with the Three Lions until Euro 2028, but his position came under scrutiny after England lost 2-1 to world champions Argentina in the semi-finals. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead on 55 minutes, but the team retreated to defend the lead, with Tuchel introducing more defenders to hold on. Argentina equalised on 85 minutes and scored in stoppage time to break English hearts, prompting questions about the defensive tactics.
However, England bounced back with a chaotic 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off, and Spence says the squad is fully behind Tuchel. The Tottenham full-back, a breakout star of the tournament, said: 'Yeah definitely very keen. He's a great manager and we've built something special.'
Spence backs Tuchel
Spence added: 'It wasn't what we wanted but it's stepping stones, it's the best we've finished since 1966 so it's a step in the right direction and hopefully the next tournament we can bring something home.' He emphasised the need to learn from the tournament and take lessons into future competitions.
When asked if the win over France was a response to criticism of Tuchel, Spence dismissed the idea, saying the team ignores 'outside noise.' He stated: 'No, I don't think we really focus on outside noise. We've just got to focus on ourselves and our bubble and control what we can control.'
Spence's personal journey
Spence was not a starter at the beginning of the World Cup but grew in stature and started the semi-final. He impressed both in attack and defence and is pleased with his debut tournament. 'It's not a bad debut tournament,' he said. 'I'm just happy I can showcase it on the biggest stage in the world.'
The 25-year-old joined Spurs in 2022 but took two years to break into the team, with loan spells at Rennes, Leeds, and Genoa. Reflecting on his journey, he said: 'I've always believed in my ability and difficult moments don't define you. So, I've worked hard and always believed that I'll be in this position.'
