England can build on World Cup 'spirit', says Tuchel

• The England boss was speaking at Wembley after naming a 27-man group for a four-game Nations League camp, starting with a clash against world champions Spain on September 26.

England's German head coach Thomas Tuchel talks to his forward Noni Madueke at the hydration break during the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between Norway and England at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 11, 2026. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Thomas Tuchel said on Friday England can build on the "fantastic spirit" of their World Cup campaign as he targets glory on home soil at Euro 2028.

The England boss was speaking at Wembley after naming a 27-man group for a four-game Nations League camp, starting with a clash against world champions Spain on September 26.

It comes just nine weeks after the end of the World Cup, where England conceded two late goals in a painful semi-final defeat by Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea forward Cole Palmer were the headline picks after both were controversially overlooked for the World Cup.

Tuchel also included Liverpool's teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite in his first squad since the tournament in North America.

A number of players who were in the World Cup squad, including John Stones, Djed Spence, Dan Burn, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson and Reece James, missed out through injury.

Former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel said he did not see the Nations League as a new start, instead focusing on continuity.

"I feel that it's not a new beginning that we are starting now, so we build on a solid and very valuable foundation, and the target is to win the home Euros," he told reporters.

Euro 2028 will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

The German, 53, said his side's ultimate failure to win a second World Cup had left him unfulfilled but stood by his squad picks.

"I had a lot of sleepless nights, but I had not one sleepless night about our selection, because I was more than seven weeks with this group of players, and they were nothing but fantastic," he said.

"I think the spirit that we built and the mentality that we showed brought us to the place that we got."

-World Cup pain-

Tuchel faced fierce criticism for his tactics as England sat on their 1-0 lead against Argentina before their late collapse in Atlanta.

"We have had critical reviews that will stay, of course, behind closed doors," he said. "I am the biggest critic of myself, and reflection is sometimes necessary to get better, and experience is a crucial part of coaching."

But he said it was important to recognise England's achievement in finishing third after they beat France 6-4 in the bronze-medal match.

"The downside of not only being ambitious, but having the full belief that we can go and win it, it hurts even more if you don't make it," Tuchel said.

"So this is where we are. But I think, coming back to the positives, we built this brotherhood and we had a fantastic spirit, and the team showed this never-give-in mentality, and we will not compromise on that."

Turning to the reasons for his squad selections, Tuchel said Palmer had impressed for free-scoring Chelsea in the early weeks of the season.

"He has his numbers back, he has assists back, he has decisive goals back, so that's why he's in the squad and I think he has a point to prove," he said.

"The same goes for Trent. He was never off the list, he was never in a non-selectable class, and he has this chance to show, to be the best version of himself."

Tuchel welcomed the challenge of taking on Spain at Wembley.

"We feel the gap is closing and we feel that we are close and we want a proof of point," he said.

"The stadium is sold out, it will be very exciting, the motivation cannot be higher to play against the world champions."

England also play the Czech Republic twice and Croatia once during the upcoming international window.