What next for England? How does Tuchel fix key problems for Euro 2028?

The last thing the Football Association was expecting when it landed Thomas Tuchel as head coach was a meek exit from an international tournament.

But by taking the lead and then inviting on a hungry Argentina that is exactly what they got.

A tactical misstep which led to England snatching a 2-1 defeat from the jaws of victory in the final minutes, and miss out on a place in the World Cup final.

Tuchel should have been able to look ahead to the next international cycle with optimism.

But merely reaching a World Cup semi-final does not feel like something worth celebrating right now.

Up next, a meeting with Spain at Wembley on 26 September in the Nations League. It could, maybe should, have been an instant replay of Sunday's World Cup final.

England will also face Czechia and old foes Croatia in the Nations League.

Then next year comes the qualifying programme for Euro 2028, which the Three Lions will take part in despite being co-hosts.

Tuchel, his England contract already extended, must now find a way to rebuild his squad and his ethos.

There are key questions for the 52-year-old to answer.

Are the lack of Kane alternatives an issue?

Harry Kane was in the form of his life in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 61 goals in all competitions.

But time is against the Bayern Munich striker, who turns 33 on 28 July.

The captain, who scored six goals at the World Cup, said after the loss to Argentina that it was "too early" to talk about playing at the finals in 2030.

Kane will, though, surely be around for Euro 2028. Lifting a trophy on home soil could yet be the end of his international career.

So who starts up front should not be a problem, barring injury.

Tuchel's key task is to work out a Plan B, or find an able understudy should Kane not be available.

Phil Foden was given a chance in a false nine role against Uruguay in March, but he underperformed to such an extent that he missed out on the World Cup.

Tuchel took two other central strikers, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Yet they were limited to one minor substitute appearance each.

Watkins, the top-scoring English striker in the Premier League last season with 16 goals, played just six minutes when he replaced Kane against Panama.

Kane played every other minute save for stoppage time against Mexico, when Morgan Rogers replaced him.

Toney, who like Watkins is 30, was only granted the final throes of stoppage time against Argentina.

It suggests an over-reliance on Kane, and alternatives must be found to ease his workload as he approaches the age of 35.

Dominic Solanke (28) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (29) are the only other strikers to be used by England in the last 12 months.

Watkins, Leeds' Calvert-Lewin (14) and the 35-year-old Brighton attacker Danny Welbeck (13) were the only English strikers to hit double figures in the Premier League last season.

Age is not on the side of any of these players, and it is unclear where the new blood is coming from.

It was hoped that Eddie Nketiah, the England Under-21 all-time record goalscorer, would be the next prolific striker to come through the youth levels.

But the former Arsenal player has scored just five Premier League goals in two seasons at Crystal Palace.

Perhaps Liam Delap, still only 23, who scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town in 2024-25, will finally find his feet at Chelsea - or at a new club.

This may be a problem for another manager beyond Euro 2028, as Tuchel may feel that he has got Kane and that will do him.

Why did Tuchel not trust Mainoo?

Tuchel's lack of confidence in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is another key theme out of this tournament.

Unlike up front, Tuchel had no option but to make changes to his midfield at times.

But rather than bring Mainoo off the bench, he opted to slot either Reece James or Nico O'Reilly in the deep-lying midfield position.

So Mainoo returns to Old Trafford as the only outfield player in the original 26-man squad not to play a single minute at the World Cup.

If Tuchel did not trust Mainoo to act as a deputy, why was he in the squad at all?

England do have plenty of reasons to be confident this might be a short-term issue.

Mainoo is only 21 and has plenty of time to develop, as do England's other options in this area.

Palace's Adam Wharton, 22, has four caps and was unlucky to miss out on the squad to Mainoo.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott, also 22, was invited to be part of the pre-tournament training camp in Florida but awaits his debut.

Tuchel needs to find a player he has confidence in to add rotation options at the base of midfield.