Thomas Tuchel got it so wrong in shameful England loss and now must make key fix | Football | Sport
Thomas Tuchel got his tactics wrong in the second half (Image: Getty)
England had Argentina squirming, caught in their trap, wounded. The concern was writ large on Argentine faces. Even Lionel Messi looked a bit worried. But rather than mercilessly executing their prey, England disarmed the trap and let them run off. Hell, England even smiled and waved and wished the South Americans well on their way.
England had Argentina right where they wanted them after that Anthony Gordon goal. But they weren’t cold-blooded killers when the time called. Instead of pressing their foot on Argentina’s throat, they were meek. They ceded all momentum and control and invited Messi and co to set up camp inside their half. Unsurprisingly, the world champions eventually found reward. They were just given far too many chances to do so.
It wasn’t like England hadn’t been warned before the two late sucker punches. Jordan Pickford had to make a brilliant save to deny Nico Gonzalez and Alexis Mac Allister twice hit the post. So who is to blame? Unfortunately, Thomas Tuchel.
This is exactly what he was appointed to avoid. It was a shameful second-half. But having already made his defensive-minded substitutions at 1-0, England were stuck. There was no outlet. No pace. Nobody to calm England down by keeping the ball.
Argentina feared England’s runners. Hence, they made every possible attempt to distract Jude Bellingham by trash-talking the midfielder. But when Bellingham had a rare off-night, as did the largely anonymous Harry Kane, where were their team-mates when needed?
Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon delivered a moment of world-class quality. But what about the other 89 minutes? England had just one other shot on target. Just one corner. The approach could have worked, but ultimately, Tuchel’s team cannot say they didn’t get what was coming to them.
If the plan was always to get ahead and protect their lead, they carried it out appallingly. Just 7.5 per cent possession between minutes 67 and 90+2 proves that. Only five passes were completed in that spell. That is frighteningly poor. You’d expect that from a pub team.
Against a team of Argentina’s quality, that domination was always going to pay. Tuchel said he had no regrets. News flash buddy: you should have some. He got it so wrong.
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Thomas Tuchel got his approach wrong at 1-0 up (Image: Getty)
England only have themselves to blame for throwing away their lead (Image: Getty)
The big mistake was taking Gordon off and leaving England without any pace on the counter. Had Tuchel replaced Gordon with Marcus Rashford or Ollie Watkins, fair enough. Instead, willingly took away their own threat. It played perfectly into Argentina’s hands.
And it came despite the fact Argentina had just brought on 38-year-old Nicolas Otamendi. Imagine the final pig left the door of his brick house open, put up a big white flag and allowed the wolf to waltz on in.
The England players still threw themselves in front of every ball, of course, but it was an incredibly difficult task to ask of them. Naturally, they tired and left gaps. Many a defence has found itself the victim of Messi’s quality. His cross for the winner was gorgeous.
And Argentina have a knack for winning late. Their last three knockout victories have been extraordinary. No wonder they haven’t lost a match with 11 men since November 2024. No wonder they won the last World Cup and also the last two Copa Americas. They’re a team of winners.
But it hasn’t always been this way, even with Messi. In fact, retired from international football in 2016 after losing a Copa America final to Chile on penalties. “It’s been four finals, it’s not meant for me. I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over,” he said.
England would do well to learn from that. Even the GOAT was heartbroken over and over before winning big for his country.
With home advantage at Euro 2028, England must dream again. But they’ve got to be more aggressive. Lessons now need to be learned from this. Tuchel was brought in to deliver a trophy but just as he got himself into the ideal scenario, he fumbled.
He became what everybody criticised Gareth Southgate for. He needs to be braver in 2028. Football isn’t coming home again unless England go out and snatch it.
