Harry Kane has defended Thomas Tuchel after England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, saying the manager will "learn a lot" from the pressures of the tournament. Tuchel, who signed a contract extension before the World Cup, faced heavy criticism for switching to a back five to protect a 1-0 lead against Argentina, but Kane praised the squad atmosphere the German has fostered since taking over from Gareth Southgate, calling it the best England group he has been part of for togetherness.

England secured third place with a 6-4 win over France, their best finish at a World Cup on foreign soil, though Kane was an unused substitute. Kane stressed that the upcoming Nations League campaign, featuring matches against Spain, Croatia and Czechia, will be crucial for gaining experience against top-tier opposition, starting with a rematch of the Euro 2024 final against Spain at Wembley on 26 September. He acknowledged England fell short in the closing stages against Argentina and said both players and manager need to learn from those moments ahead of future tournaments.