England coach Thomas Tuchel has delivered an emotional message to his squad, urging them to conclude their World Cup campaign with strength following their semi-final loss to Argentina. The team returned to their base in Kansas City after the defeat to prepare for their final two training sessions ahead of Saturday’s bronze-medal match against France.
Sources indicate that Tuchel encouraged his players to move past their disappointment and aim for a strong finish in the tournament. Should England secure third place by defeating France in Miami, it would mark their best men’s World Cup performance since their victory in 1966.
Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
Tuchel reportedly expressed pride in the team’s efforts in North America, where the Three Lions reached their fourth World Cup semi-final in history. However, the relationship between the 52-year-old German coach and his players has become a point of discussion following Argentina’s 2-1 win, which saw two late goals.
Reports suggest that some key players were left disappointed with the tactical instructions given in the latter stages of the game after Anthony Gordon had put England in the lead. Tuchel made defensive substitutions and shifted to a back five as Lionel Messi orchestrated a comeback, assisting goals for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, whose winning goal came in the 92nd minute.
Some players, including senior members, were reportedly perplexed by Tuchel’s defensive changes, believing these alterations hindered their chances of winning rather than improving them. After Gordon’s goal, the team dropped deeper in defence, and Tuchel introduced Ezri Konsa for Gordon, switching to a back-five with over 30 minutes remaining in the match.
Later, Declan Rice, who had faced illness and fitness issues during the tournament, was replaced by Nico O’Reilly, resulting in England having six defenders on the pitch, four of whom were centre-backs. Harry Kane also moved deeper to assist in defending against Argentina’s repeated attacks, which were spearheaded by Messi.
Those within the camp who had reservations about the tactics felt that England lacked an outlet, someone to retain possession in attacking areas, or players to run the ball down the flanks, which could have relieved pressure on the defence. England’s attacking strategy throughout the tournament had focused on utilising speedy wingers, and Argentina’s full-backs had been identified as a potential weakness.
Morgan Rogers on the right wing set up Gordon on the left wing for England’s opening goal in the 55th minute. However, after this goal, players like Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and Eberechi Eze remained on the bench. Marcus Rashford was introduced in the 96th minute, by which point England were already trailing 2-1 after the late goals from Fernandez and Martinez.
In the period between Gordon’s goal and Martinez’s stoppage-time winner, England’s possession dropped significantly. Tuchel later stated that he believed the issue was systemic within English football, suggesting that players struggled to maintain possession under pressure. He did not consider his tactics to be incorrect, explaining that his move to a back five was intended to prevent crosses into England’s box and limit Argentina’s space after they introduced left winger Nico Gonzalez and moved Messi to the right wing in a 4-2-4 formation.
However, some England players reportedly hold a different view, feeling that the substitutions were negative and made it harder for the defence to get respite and for the team to keep the ball. There is no indication of a rift or animosity towards Tuchel within the squad, as he is considered a popular and authoritative leader.
Looking Ahead
Tuchel is expected to address questions regarding his team’s tactical approach against Argentina during the pre-match news conference for the France game. The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss signed a two-year contract extension in February, having initially been appointed in January 2025 with the aim of winning the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel reportedly retains the support of the Football Association and is anticipated to lead the team into the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.
He has also stated his commitment to remaining in his role for Euro 2028.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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