Alan Shearer Exclusive: Thomas Tuchel got it wrong, England player ratings and what's next before Euro 2028

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England's World Cup exit

Ultimately Tuchel got it wrong and he has to take responsibility

I think Tuchel made a mistake and it was very costly. We went all defensive, we went all negative. His substitution to take Gordon off and Konsa on, we were hanging on for dear life basically till the end. I think that substitution is probably when there was 25 minutes left of the game.

I just think what worked for him against Norway and Mexico with putting five at the back, putting Dan Burn on, going all defensive and trying to clear everything out of the box, he thought that I'll do that again because it's worked twice already. But the quality of the opposition was much better than it was against Norway and Mexico and we've been done.

He was hired for these moments and that's what ultimately cost us. Whether he'll ever admit that I doubt it. But he has to look at that and deep-down think, I got that wrong.

We just couldn't get out. Once we were winning the ball and tackled or cleared it, it was going straight back to Argentina, and they would come back at us. We needed someone up front with legs. We needed to change either the wingers or the centre forward in Harry because Harry was knackered, as were the two wide players. It was very, very negative.

I've been there myself when you're losing control of a game because they've scored or they are piling on pressure, it is very difficult. But you need an out ball. Even if you kick it long and someone chases it, and we just didn't have that.

I would look at it as a player and think, well, it was your job to come in and help us. He was hired to win the tournament. He was hired to get through semi-finals and final and win it. That's what his job was. He said it himself, so, I'm not saying anything that is different. He said it when he came in, his negative comments in terms of England not going for it under Gareth when they could have. They've all come back to bite him and he has to accept responsibility for that.

I'm not saying he should lose his job because I think I'm hoping that he learns and he can knuckle down in two years' time with the Euros, particularly with it being in our country and in Scotland and Wales.

Ultimately, he got it wrong and he has to take responsibility and admit what happened was his fault. I think the players have given everything.

As a player, I did it myself when we went out in '98. This is slightly different because we went down to 10 men and played 75 minutes with 10 men. But when you come out of a tournament and you think, I've given everything here and I couldn't give any more, then I think that's acceptable as a player.

I felt that twice in '98 and in '96. So, I think the players can come out with this with their heads held high.

We went out of the World Cup in the same fashion we did under Southgate

I think it was the right time for Gareth to go and I think it was his decision to do that. And I think from what he did and what he achieved, he did great things for England. He just couldn't, as many others have tried and failed, couldn't get us over the line in that really important final or semi-finals.

But again, I go back to my point, Tuchel was brought in to do that. So that's why it's really, really hurting and raw that we went out in very much the same way as we have done in so many tournaments over the last few years.

I would rate England's 2026 World Cup campaign 7.5/8 out of 10

I experienced one of the best nights ever in terms of football in the Azteca when I went there to watch and to commentate on England's game. I'll never ever forget that. It was amazing to be there that night. And it was a great away performance from England in very difficult circumstances. I'll always, always remember that.

But we never quite saw the Thomas Tuchel England that he perhaps said we would, maybe the second half against Croatia was the only time. We got through games and I think mentality we were amazing and how we got through to where we did. We had big, big moments in games. We didn't quite see brilliant football, but we had brilliant moments.

You have to remember they got to a World Cup semi-final; they're one of the best four teams in the world. They're not the best team. They did what I expected, I said they would get to the semi-final. And the best four teams in the world were in the semi-finals. England are fourth on the list and that's where they are at this moment in time.

If I had to score England's 2026 World Cup campaign it would be 7 and a half, 8 out of 10.

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England player ratings

My player ratings for England's World Cup squad at the 2026 tournament:

Jordan Pickford - World Cup performance rating - 7/10

I think in Mexico he played a great game. He pulled a couple of brilliant saves off the other night as well. But in other games he looked rather shaky, so yeah, seven out of ten. I don't think you could discard him for Euro 2028. That all depends on how James Trafford does, because he's clearly number two.

Reece James - 7/10

He got injured for a couple of games. Seven too I think, he sort of gave what I thought he could give. He had the injury which we thought he was going to get because he is injury prone. But he's clearly a talented player. It is always going to be a big if with him because he's injury prone whether he will make the Euro 2028 squad but if he is fit, he will be in it.

John Stones - 7.5-8/10

When he played, I thought he was very good. The manager didn't put him in for whatever reason. He started the first game and then didn't play the other two or three, sort of just came on in bit parts. But when he played, I thought he did a really good job actually. So yeah, seven and a half, eight out of 10. He hasn't got a club either at the minute, which is pretty rare. He hasn't signed for anyone yet. So again, another big summer for him if he is to make the Euro 2028 team.

Marc Guehi - 8/10

I would give Guehi an eight out of 10. I thought he was solid. I thought he more than played his part in games. Stood up to Haaland when he had to and played most games well.

Djed Spence - 8/10

That was the one that where most people spoke about, it, in terms of it was a surprise selection. But I have to say, I thought he was outstanding. When he came on against Norway, he was brilliant, which then got his place again in the semi-final and deserved his spot. He's a much better left-back, I think, which is really strange. Someone who's right footed, he's a much better left-back than he is right-back. But when he was called upon, I thought he was excellent.

Declan Rice - 7/10

We didn't see the best of Declan, unfortunately, he was clearly struggling with illness or injury, or one of the two or maybe even both. I admired him putting himself forward every game, whether it was fatigue or injury or illness, we didn't quite see the best Declan Rice though, so seven out of 10.

Elliot Anderson - 8/10

I thought he was brilliant. He got his move throughout the tournament as well to Man City, and he will without doubt be there in two years' time playing a huge part for England. So, eight out of 10 for him.

Morgan Rogers - 7/10

He started start the game the other day and he put in what was a brilliant ball for Gordon's goal against Argentina. I would have liked to have seen more of him. So, seven out of 10.

Jude Bellingham - 9-9.5/10

Nine, nine and a half out of 10 for Bellingham. He was England's best player of the tournament. Some of the moments were amazing. Some of the goals and how he timed his runs to perfection was excellent. So nine and a half for me.

Anthony Gordon - 7.5/10

Seven and a half out of 10 for Gordon, he got his goal the other night, the manager put him in and trusted him and from that side of things it paid off. I didn't think in either wide position - which is why the manager kept swapping it around so many times, right side, left side - that we didn't see as much as we could have and should have from left or right. So seven and a half out of 10.

Harry Kane - 9/10

Nine out of 10 for Harry with the six goals he scored? He was putting himself in the mix in the big moments for a big part of the tournament. That finish against DR Congo was amazing. So nine for Harry.

Dan Burn - 8/10

It's difficult to mark Burn when someone's just coming on for 10 or 15 minutes, but what he did do he gets an eight. I feel as if I'm giving him an eight, but Anthony Gordon is seven and a half and he played a lot more minutes, which is slightly unfair, but from what Dan was asked to do, he did really well.

Noni Madueke - 6/10

I didn't feel he ever got going, to be honest. I thought he could have offered a lot more at times, so he gets a six out of 10.

Ezri Konsa - 7.5/10

Seven and a half out of 10. I thought he was decent, gave it a go. I can't really complain with him.

Nico O'Reilly - 7/10

Seven out of 10 for Nico, I thought he did well, he had his moments as well. Obviously, the manager left him out for the semi-final and then brought him on, so seven out of ten. But he's a super player and he'll without doubt be around for the Euros in two years.

Bukayo Saka - 6/10

Yeah, he struggled didn't he, Six out of 10. I guess we didn't see the best of Saka at all on that right-hand side and clearly, he's not fit because the manager would have played him if he was.

Marcus Rashford - 6.5/10

He got his goal when he came on in that first game and then we didn't see too much of him after that. Six and a half out of 10.

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Looking ahead to Euro 2028

I think Tuchel is the right man to take us into Euro 2028

I said before the tournament, I wouldn't have picked the squad that he picked. There would have been four, five, maybe six different players in it for me, but that's fine.

They got through to a semi-final again. I think given his contract, given what has gone on, he's made an error, a costly error, and it's hurt us. But I do think he can continue to the Euros and hopefully that won't happen again.

I hope he accepts that he got it wrong. I guess you always look forward and you learn, no matter how old you are and how successful you've been. He'll be hurting, I guess. I know that as well because I don't think this Argentina team are as good as the one that won the World Cup four years ago. A very similar squad, four years older.

There was an unbelievable opportunity for us there. We worked so hard to get in front and do the hard part. Then to see what happened afterwards will have without doubt have hurt the players. You're probably better off speaking to Tuchel in two or three weeks' time rather than directly two minutes after a game when the pain and the hurt is there.

If we don't win Euro 2028 then we will never win it

I feel as if we're behind other nations at the minute. We are behind the two finalists in Argentina and Spain and behind France too. Come the Euros, somewhere along the line, we're going to have to beat France or Spain.

It looks as if Zinedine Zidane is going to be France manager. So, it'll be really interesting to see what happens there. Spain are brilliant. They've got some really talented players, young players, fresh players in their squad so they're going to be probably the team to beat again. So, it's not easy, just like it's not easy winning the Champions League.

There are some teams that are just going to be there all the time and Spain and France are some of those. When you look at France's forward line, they aren't going anywhere pretty soon either. So, we're not as good as those yet, but Thomas was brought in to change that.

If we don't win it in 2028, then we might never win it in my time, unfortunately, because we're on home soil. We got to the final last time, and we got to the final which was played at Wembley the time before, and we got beat on pens then. If we don't win it in two years' time, I'm not sure we'll ever win it.

Trafford, Miley and Ngumoha would be my shouts to come into the Euro 2028 squad

I think that's really difficult to predict because you've got a lot of youngsters that are just starting out in their career. Two that spring to mind are Newcastle's Lewis Miley and Rio Ngumoha at Liverpool. There are probably five or six others that over the next 18 months could blossom and be brilliant.

Clearly Cole Palmer is still there. Phil Foden and all these guys would come into it, Adam Wharton as well. But I think the one area of concern for me would be at the minute is if Harry Kane is not in the Euro 2028 squad, then who are the centre forwards going to be for England, as unfortunately that looks a difficult question to answer at the moment.

I think that would be a concern because clearly, he can't go on forever. And another two years on, he's going to be touching 35. I think without doubt he'll get the appearance record for England and deserves it, he's been a giant for England. But whether he can go again in the future I am not sure, I don't think he will be around in four years' time, but whether he can go again in two years then we will have to see.

He knows his body better than most, but he looked sharp in this World Cup, to be honest. I know we didn't see the best of him. He didn't produce in the game against Argentina, but up until then, I thought he more than played his part and he had some brilliant moments.

James Trafford has to get out of City and play so it is going to be a big summer for him if he wants to become England's number one and I guess he's been waiting to try and sort that out so it's a big move for him because he has to play so he'll without doubt put pressure on Pickford over the next 12 to 18 months I think.

I would be miffed if I was Kobbie Mainoo

I think because of what's gone on in certain games, I would likely be miffed if I was Kobbie Mainoo at this World Cup. I understand that and get that. Even with Jordan Henderson being out injured, he still didn't get a sniff or get onto the pitch.

So, I guess he would be one that would be coming away from the tournament thinking he should have got more minutes or he should have got minutes rather than more minutes. And he would, I guess, be pretty angry at the situation.

Howe would do a brilliant job with England, but I want to keep him at Newcastle

I'm sure if Eddie Howe took over with England, he would do a very good job because clearly, he's an outstanding coach. But whether he would want that, not the day-to-day stuff, so early in his career and his life, I don't know. But let's hope that's not the case because we want to keep him at Newcastle.

I think everyone would take Pep Guardiola as England manager if that was ever the case

Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers there has ever been so I think if he was our manager he would have got us to the final.

I think with Pep, there's without a doubt a respect from everyone because of who and what he is. So, if that opportunity ever came along to be England manager, I think everyone would grab that with two hands if that was ever the case. But that's not going to happen because they've got a two-year deal with Thomas Tuchel.

They've given him that already and they've already said, he's our man to take us forward, which I'm okay with as much as it's hurting and disappointing what happened the other night.

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