CORNERFLICK
Harry Kane has backed Thomas Tuchel after England finished third at the 2026 World Cup, asking supporters not to judge the manager solely on the semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Kane said Tuchel had given both the players and the country belief that this could be England’s year. England’s third-place finish was their best World Cup result since winning the tournament in 1966, but the 2-1 loss to Argentina prompted criticism of Tuchel’s decisions.
The England captain defended the head coach by saying even one of the world’s best managers would not get every call right. He added that players make mistakes too, and that the key is to learn from them and improve.
Kane also said he understood why supporters were upset and angry. He noted that Tuchel would have known from the outset how much pressure and responsibility came with taking the England job.
The striker said Tuchel needs time to absorb everything from his first tournament in charge, describing it as a volatile but valuable experience. Kane finished by saying both players and staff must learn from the campaign and do better next time around.