Tuchel’s ‘cowardly’ tactics end England’s World Cup dream

England’s World Cup dream ended in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday, a collapse that has left manager Thomas Tuchel facing accusations of “cowardice” and “coaching catastrophe.” The decisive moment came during the second-half hydration break in the 67th minute, when Tuchel chose to switch to a five-man defence despite leading 1-0 through Anthony Gordon’s goal. The Independent called it “a response that was pure football cowardice,” while the Daily Mail reported that football legends led outrage at a “coaching disaster.” Tuchel, appointed precisely for his tactical acumen, had neutered every advantage England held over Argentina — pace, athleticism, and the momentum of the lead. Instead of pressing for a second goal, he ceded the pitch and the space, allowing Lionel Messi to become the force he had not been for most of the game. “He had been a distant force… only ever flicking at the match,” The Independent noted. But with the defensive shift, Messi supplied the assists for both Argentina goals, the first a simple pass for Enzo Fernandez’s rocket, with Fernandez having “a chasm of space around him.” The loss has been described as “the worst yet” for England, a campaign that had them on the brink of their greatest moment since 1966 now ending in self-inflicted collapse. Tuchel had previously used the same five-at-the-back approach in the last-16 match against Mexico, but as The Independent pointed out, England had 11 men on the pitch then, and Argentina are not Mexico — they have Lionel Messi, still chasing a second World Cup. “It only fosters the sense that it’s just never going to happen,” the article added. The Daily Mail quoted outrage from football legends, and questions are already being asked: “Is this sackable? All that money… for this?” For now, England are out, and Tuchel’s reputation as a manager who can get over the line lies in tatters.