England’s World Cup dream ended in Atlanta with a 2-1 defeat to Argentina – a collapse that will be remembered for Thomas Tuchel’s defensive retreat and the German manager’s stubborn insistence he would do it all again.
Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the 55th minute, tapping in at the back post to send the travelling fans into ecstasy. But within minutes, Tuchel began to shut up shop. He replaced Gordon with Ezri Konsa on 72 minutes, then brought on Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly for the injured Reece James and Declan Rice. England switched to a 5-4-1 formation.
“Thomas Tuchel has no regrets over defensive subs as England crash out of World Cup semi-final 2-1 to Argentina.”
The effect was immediate. England had just 12 per cent of possession after taking the lead. Argentina, world champions and relentless, poured forward. Enzo Fernandez rifled a rocket past Jordan Pickford from distance in the 85th minute. Three minutes into stoppage time, Lautaro Martinez headed home a free header to break English hearts.
Wayne Rooney, the former captain, was blistering. “We got ourselves in such a good position and we didn’t know what to do,” he said. “We sat back, allowed them to come on to us. They put us under pressure and we cracked. When you go 1-0 up, then sit back, make changes, go five or six at the back… you’re asking for trouble.”
Rooney said England “crumbled”. The criticism was echoed by fans who slammed Tuchel’s “cowardly” substitutions. Tuchel threw on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford on 96 minutes, but the damage was already done.
Tuchel, though, was defiant. “You can discuss this with a million coaches, but I have to make a decision on the pitch,” he told the BBC. “In the moment, no regrets. The team gave everything and we were very, very close. We played one of our better matches, maybe our best match in the circumstances.”
He denied there was a “structural problem”, saying he switched to a back five because “the gaps were far too open”. “We conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help,” he said. “I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help.”
The defeat leaves England’s bid to reach a first World Cup final since 1966 in ruins – and Tuchel’s future as manager under immediate scrutiny.
