FA to consult players in World Cup review following semi-final defeat

The Football Association's review into England's World Cup campaign will canvass the opinions of players involved in the tournament.

English football's governing body has started the post-tournament review they conduct after every major international competition. The FA says the review is the standard process it undertakes after all tournaments.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel and members of his backroom team were at St George's Park last week where they were involved in unpacking their performance in north America with a wider report into the team's World Cup campaign to be delivered at a later date.

And it is understood members of Tuchel's squad will be spoken to, and their feedback taken into account, as part of the review process.

The players' involvement in the review provides an interesting dynamic given the emerging sense from members of the World Cup squad that Tuchel's substitutions and tactical approach contributed to their semi-final loss to Argentina - despite taking a 1-0 lead through Anthony Gordon.

BBC Sport revealed in the 24 hours after that defeat that at least three senior players privately expressed misgivings about Tuchel's approach in the closing stages of the game.

There was a widely held view that Tuchel's changes and tactical set-up were too defensive late on as they conceded two late goals to lose 2-1.

The ongoing review will also look into the impact of the team's permanent Kansas City base during the tournament.

After every game, they returned to Kansas City - and the effects of the travelling will be analysed.

England went on to defeat France in the bronze medal match to record their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966.

With that in mind, key figures at the FA view the tournament as a success and the organisation has backed Tuchel before the Euro 2028 qualifying campaign.

England will play their first game since the World Cup in the Nations League against Spain on 26 September. They will also face two matches in the tournament against the Czech Republic, either side of playing Croatia, during the next international window.