Five problems England must solve before Euro 2028

Thomas Tuchel’s side went further than all but two nations, yet their semi-final collapse against Argentina exposed problems that a chaotic third-place play-off could not erase.

With a home European Championship beginning on June 9, 2028, here are five jobs that cannot be left until the bunting goes up.

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Find some insurance for Harry Kane

Six World Cup goals provided another reminder that Kane remains England’s most dependable source of goals. He is their record scorer, their captain and still the player around whom the attack functions. Unfortunately, he will be a few weeks short of his 35th birthday by the Euro 2028 final.

That does not mean Kane must be replaced. It means England cannot arrive at another tournament with no convincing plan for his absence or decline.

The next generation contains promise rather than certainty, while many of the established alternatives will also be well into their thirties. Tuchel needs a deputy who can imitate Kane’s link play or, preferably, offer something entirely different.

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Learn how to keep the ball

England repeatedly surrendered control during the World Cup, most painfully after taking the lead against Argentina. Tuchel later suggested that dominating possession was not part of English football’s “DNA”, a curious defence when so many of his players spend their club careers being instructed to do precisely that.

Adam Wharton and Alex Scott offer calmness and passing imagination. Kobbie Mainoo, remarkably, did not play a single minute at the tournament. England do not need to become Spain, but they must become capable of slowing matches down rather than treating possession as an administrative inconvenience.

Settle the back four

Tuchel’s defence rarely remained unchanged for long. John Stones, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa rotated centrally, while right-back became a travelling audition involving Reece James, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah.

Some disruption was unavoidable. James remains chronically difficult to rely upon, Spence encountered fitness problems and Quansah’s red card against Mexico further complicated matters. But tournament football rewards familiarity. England need a dependable first-choice unit, not another month-long experiment conducted under knockout pressure.

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Build around Bellingham, not around reputations

Jude Bellingham scored seven goals, an England record for a single World Cup, and was comfortably their most influential player. He has now moved beyond being one member of a gifted generation. He is the player around whom that generation should be organised.

That may require uncomfortable omissions. Other famous attackers might prefer Bellingham’s spaces, demand the same touches or weaken the midfield behind him.

None should be selected merely because leaving them out looks provocative. Tuchel must decide which combination releases Bellingham most effectively, then live with the complaints.

Stop panicking when ahead

England’s greatest failure against Argentina was not taking a lead. It was behaving as though scoring had activated an emergency protocol.

Tuchel’s defensive substitutions gradually produced something resembling a back six. England dropped deeper, abandoned any sustained attacking threat and invited wave after wave of pressure until Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the match around.

Protecting a lead does not always mean adding defenders. Against elite opponents, territory and possession can be defensive weapons too. England must learn that bravery is not only required when chasing a game. Sometimes the courageous decision is to keep playing after going in front.

 

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