Pressure is mounting on England manager Thomas Tuchel as the team's World Cup performance continues to raise questions about his future.
The 52-year-old was hired as Sir Gareth Southgate's successor with a clear objective: to win the tournament. However, speculation over his future is growing, particularly given his recent contract extension.
Tuchel extended his contract before the World Cup to cover Euro 2028, which England is co-hosting alongside Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. The deal contains performance clauses, allowing the Football Association to sack him without major compensation if certain objectives are not met.
An exit at the round of 16 stage would mark England's worst performance at a major tournament since Roy Hodgson's team was humiliated by Iceland a decade ago.
However, Tuchel's job appears to be safe, at least for now. The FA will take into account the difficulty of the draw when reviewing the manager's performance at the end of the tournament, and barring a disastrous result, the plan is to keep him at the helm.
England's path to glory would see them face Brazil, Argentina, and France if they advance beyond the knockout stage. Defeat to any of these teams will not change the plan, and the FA's decision will also be influenced by the mood in the England camp, which is said to be very positive despite recent performances.
The Football Association's decision will also be influenced by the mood in the England camp, which is said to be very positive despite recent performances and Tuchel's demanding style of management.
While there has been criticism of the decision not to call up Trent Alexander-Arnold amid a right-back injury crisis, sources inside the camp don't share that opinion and believe the manager has just been unlucky with his squad's fitness.
Tuchel, who won the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea, is not expected to leave the England job anytime soon, and most high-profile club jobs are no longer up for grabs.
