BRUISED AND BITTER: Tuchel still feels hard done by over England World Cup criticism - does he have a point?

Thomas Tuchel still feels very hard done by. In fact, it would be fair to say the England manager has been bruised by the whole World Cup 2026 experience. England finished third in the World Cup, their best-ever performance on foreign soil.

So, why are so many England fans still so frustrated, still hurt and why, when looking back upon the summer, do they do it with regret rather than happy memories?

And they do. I struggle to find an England fan who does not feel a sense of “what might have been” after a World Cup which promised so much.

In a poll on the Mirror website and app immediately after England's exit, we asked our readers who was "most to blame" for the defeat.

The majority, 56%, of 2,500 people said Tuchel was to blame; 7% said the players; and more than a third, 37%, answered "both must take the blame".

Tuchel names his next England squad on Friday for the forthcoming Nations League fixtures.

And, by the way, so many football fans have not clocked it. It’s gone unnoticed that there are no Premier League games for the best part of THREE WEEKS.

None from next Sunday until the weekend of October 10 and 11. In between, England play Spain at Wembley, then they have a trip to Czech Republic, Croatia and then back to Wembley to face Czech Republic again. Four games.

On Friday, Tuchel will unveil his squad but also expect some more questions about the World Cup, what happened, what was good and what went wrong.

Now, Tuchel has been a regular face in Premier League boardrooms, in directors’ boxes and on TV screens as he watches games. On Sunday, Tuchel was at Old Trafford for the Manchester derby.

And anyone who has spoken to him at those games - from former managers to ex-players - has got a sense that he feels hard done by. That England did well and he did not deserve so much criticism in the wake of the semi-final defeat to Argentina.

Tuchel is friendly, approachable and enjoys the chat and banter when he goes to clubs to watch players. But people have noticed a sense of annoyance over the way some people still view and remember England’s World Cup campaign.

Tuchel was visibly annoyed when he faced tough questions on the eve of England’s third place play-off with France in Miami in July.

The questions were probing and fair about who he thought was to blame. This was not the blame game. But if he gave the team instructions - were the players not following orders.

Tuchel is searingly honest and, immediately after that defeat to Argentina, he talked about England’s DNA and the need to keep the ball better. It was interesting. And a debate and a genuine subject.

There is no way in the world that, after finishing third, Tuchel was going to lose his job. The Football Association feel he did and is doing a fine job. I’m inclined to agree. But he did get it wrong in the semi-final. And those are the games he was brought in for.

His harshest critics - the ones on phone-ins, the shock jocks and social media - disagreed and felt he was entirely to blame for the tactical own goal against Argentina. Many argued he should have lost his job. Thanks very much. Onto the next one.

The more realistic fans just saw it as an opportunity wasted. This was not a classic Argentina team, they were there for the taking, they kept on going on about the Falklands… and England blew their chance.

That is where the frustration comes. Along with Tuchel’s promise to try and put another star on the shirt. Well, he tried. And England came up short.

There’s no doubt about it. England’s last-16 win in Mexico at altitude took it out of the players, with a hangover effect continuing into the quarter and semi-final.

England were then taken to extra time by Norway in the quarters. They did lots more travelling than Argentina. That constant back and forth to Kansas City felt excessive.

By the time they played Argentina, even superhuman Jude Bellingham looked tired. It is so long since England have had a world-class superstar like Bellingham playing at his highest and best level. When will that happen again? He was phenomenal.

Straight afterwards, it felt bizarre that the FA even needed to offer some support for Tuchel - who is under contract until 2028 - and his future. Sadly, by doing so you make it a topic of conversation.

There was clearly some frustration among some players about England’s tactics after Argentina. They did go defensive by going five at the back. Why not stay on the front foot?

But that is why it became a fair question over who was to blame? Tuchel suggested he went five at the back to actually change shape and allow the wing backs to push on while strengthening the centre halves.

So did the players just not follow orders? Maybe Tuchel’s directness raises question marks. We never, ever want a manager to stop being open, honest and interesting. But on occasion, it will raise difficult questions.

That’s the frustration. But it does raise a genuine question: did Tuchel deserve more respect for what England did at the World Cup? And are England genuine contenders for the next Euros?

My view is that Tuchel did do well at the World Cup. Very well. But he probably raised our expectations - and blew a big chance against Argentina. That’s the frustration.

But should it overwhelm the achievement? It’s hard not to argue not because it was such a big opportunity against such a big rival.