Pep Guardiola Unlikely to Pursue England Job Amid Calls for Thomas Tuchel’s Dismissal After World Cup Loss

Thomas Tuchel, former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich coach, has come under fire following England’s semi-final loss to Argentina at the World Cup. Despite Anthony Gordon opening the scoring, England fell back defensively, allowing Lionel Messi to orchestrate the comeback with two key assists. Critics argue that Tuchel’s decision to make defensive substitutions instead of maintaining attacking pressure allowed Argentina to seize control and continue England’s six-decade wait for a major international trophy.

Calls to Replace Tuchel Grow Louder

Some voices suggest ending Tuchel’s contract, which includes leading England through the 2028 European Championship, is necessary. Names like Eddie Howe, fresh off delivering silverware to Newcastle, have been floated as potential replacements. The availability of Pep Guardiola, who recently concluded a decorated decade at Manchester City, also enters the conversation.

Lescott Advises Caution on Replacing Tuchel

Speaking to GOAL in partnership with UniBet Online Casino, former England defender Joleon Lescott dismissed the notion that Guardiola might be eager for the England role or that a quick decision should be made about Tuchel’s future. Lescott stated, “I don’t think Pep is bored, and with how quickly people turn on you, I doubt he wants the role. As for Thomas Tuchel, frustration is natural after elimination, but blaming one person immediately isn’t right.”

Lescott added that reaching the semi-finals was expected given England’s top-four seeding and the strength of the opposition. He noted the luck involved in such matches and said, “We got there; we didn’t overachieve. Now it depends on what happens on the day. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way.”

Lessons From Another Near Miss

England’s history is marked by repeated heartbreak in major tournaments. From facing legends like Maradona and Ronaldo to setbacks involving penalties and red cards, success has often slipped away. Lescott believes the team should continue its current path rather than overhaul everything after this loss. He reflected on the match dynamics, saying that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to make many saves after England scored and that Argentina, with nothing to lose, became more daring as the game progressed.

He recalled, “After their first goal, we had a moment where we dominated again, pushing them back into their box. That’s just football, but unfortunately, we couldn’t hold on.”

Looking Ahead: England’s Next Matches and Tuchel’s Future

England will play France in the third-place playoff, hoping to salvage something from a demanding tournament. Their competitive calendar continues with the UEFA Nations League starting in September, possibly facing World Cup champions Spain. Whether Thomas Tuchel remains in charge by then is still uncertain.