Jermaine Jenas believes England should keep faith with Thomas Tuchel even if the Three Lions crash out of the 2026 World Cup against hosts Mexico.
England booked their place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over DR Congo and now face a daunting clash with Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning (1pm UK time).
While Jenas insists Tuchel deserves more time regardless of the result, the former England midfielder did question one major selection decision – leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the World Cup squad while taking the injury-prone Reece James.
James missed the win over DR Congo through injury, forcing Djed Spence to start at right-back before Declan Rice was moved into the role later in the match.
Jenas slams Tuchel’s right-back call
Speaking exclusively to 10bet, Jenas said Tuchel had made a costly gamble with his squad selection.
“I think taking Reece James to a major tournament with no real backup is just ridiculous, he said.
“I love Reece James, I think everybody loves Reece James as a footballer, but taking him on the basis of, ‘Well, I’ve got Djed Spence that can fill in there’ – I don’t care what anyone tells me, I will never, ever listen to anybody that tells me Trent Alexander-Arnold should not be at this World Cup.
“He is easily one of our 26 best players.”
Jenas believes England have lacked creativity at times during the tournament and feels Alexander-Arnold’s passing ability could have offered Tuchel another dimension.
“We’ve kind of been a bit one-trick pony-ish. Trent’s not that,” added Jenas.
“If teams sit in and you have somebody like Trent on the ball, you have to get to him because he’s just going to keep doing what he does from the halfway line if he has to.”
World Cup 2026 betting tips: England to march past Mexico, Gordon to provide tonic; USA to beat Belgium
Tuchel ‘gambling everything’
Despite his criticism, Jenas praised Tuchel’s mentality, suggesting the German has been prepared to risk everything in pursuit of World Cup success.
“I really respect Thomas Tuchel. I think he’s just laid it all on the line,” he said.
“In his mind, it’s, ‘If I don’t win, I don’t care if I get sacked because that’s my objective.’
“He’s not an England manager that’s looking for longevity. He’s coming in and going, ‘I’m going to do it my way, and if I get sacked after Mexico, I get sacked, but I gave it a go.'”
However, Jenas believes Tuchel has handed critics ammunition through some of his selection calls.
“I love him as a manager, I’d love him to stick around, I think he’s great, but I think he’s given people the chance to give him stick with some of the decisions he’s made, and the right-back situation is one of them”, he said.
Tuchel deserves another tournament
England face one of their toughest tests of the competition against tournament hosts Mexico, but Jenas insists defeat should not automatically spell the end of Tuchel’s reign.
He added: “I don’t think he deserves to lose his job. I just think he’s given everybody a bit of an excuse to do it.
“I’m sure he would like a European Championship campaign. I’d like to see him have two campaigns at a major tournament rather than just one.”
Jenas also pointed to the unique challenges managers have faced during this World Cup, adding: “There are so many variables at this World Cup to deal with as a manager.
“The water breaks, the weather conditions depending on where you are, the altitude in Mexico.
“There are so many variables at play that you’re going to need a lot of luck to win it, unless you’re doing what France are doing. So he’s giving people an excuse.”
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