England lost 1-2 to Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel accepted blame for the defeat but defended his tactics. The Football Association confirmed he keeps his job through the 2028 Euros.
England lost 1-2 to Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel accepted blame for the defeat but defended his tactics. The Football Association confirmed he keeps his job through the 2028 Euros.
Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, finishing a Morgan Rogers cross. England then dropped deep and invited pressure. Enzo Fernandez levelled in the 85th minute with a curling strike from outside the box, before Lautaro Martinez headed a stoppage-time winner. Lionel Messi assisted both.
England managed just 12% possession between taking the lead and conceding the second goal. It was the second time this century, both involving England, that a team scoring first in a World Cup semi-final failed to reach the final.
Tuchel switched to a back five, sending on defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly while forwards Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney arrived only in stoppage time. He accepted responsibility but rejected the idea his changes cost England.
"They won every header. They kept crossing and crossing. So we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be stronger in the air," Tuchel said. He added: "But of course the responsibility is on the coach. And if it doesn't go well, it's easy to say that it was wrong."
Asked directly if he got his tactics wrong, Tuchel replied: "No, I believe that's just the nature of the game. As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It's just what it is."
Harry Kane called the exit devastating. "Everyone's gutted. I'm gutted for all the boys, all the staff, everyone behind the scenes," the captain said. "When you're so close, when you're 10-plus minutes away and it slips out of your hands like that, obviously, the lads are devastated."
The England men's team posted on X that they were "completely heartbroken that our dream ends here."
Former players lined up to question the approach. Wayne Rooney said: "We have crumbled. It started from the manager and the decisions he made. It was too passive." Alan Shearer said Tuchel "played his cards very, very early and it has backfired."
Oliver Kahn criticised both manager and captain. "Messi didn't have much space in the first half. England lost control in the latter stages of the second half. Why would you have 10 players standing inside the box?" the former Germany goalkeeper said.
Mark Bullingham confirmed Tuchel keeps his job. "It is heartbreaking to be so close," the FA CEO said, praising the squad and staff. Tuchel indicated he intends to lead England to the home Euros in 2028.
"We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros," Tuchel said. "Of course, it's a semi-final; a lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement."
England will meet France in the third-place playoff match. A victory would give The Three Lions their best World Cup finish since winning the trophy in 1966.
Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
