Thomas Tuchel is under intense scrutiny after England's 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina at the World Cup. Despite taking an early lead through Anthony Gordon, England collapsed in the closing stages as Lionel Messi provided two assists to Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. The nature of the loss has sparked outrage and calls for the England manager to be sacked. Here are five key mistakes Tuchel made in North America.
Misuse of Saka and Madueke
Bukayo Saka spent the entire World Cup nursing an injury, yet Tuchel chose Noni Madueke as his alternative. This decision was controversial from the start and has since been justified as Madueke struggled to make an impact. Saka's fitness concerns were evident months before the tournament, but Tuchel overlooked other options like Cole Palmer, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, and Harvey Barnes, who could have made a difference at the top level. Instead, he opted for a player unlikely to cause a scene with limited appearances.
Retreating vs Argentina
After Gordon's goal, England inexplicably sat back and allowed Argentina time and space. Harry Kane claimed the messaging was to attack, but bringing on three defenders while 1-0 up told a different story. Giving Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, enough touches of the ball inevitably led to goals. England had the better team but lacked the courage to seize the opportunity.
Snubbing Star Players
In the final stages, England relied on Ezri Konsa's deep crosses to create chances. Konsa, primarily a centre-back, should not have been trusted in such a crucial role. Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the finest deliverers of the ball, was left on the bench. Similarly, Harry Maguire, a specialist in defending the box, was overlooked for Dan Burn. Martinez's free header for the winner highlighted this defensive lapse.
Didn't Pay Attention to Set-Pieces
Set-pieces were a key strength for Arsenal, who won the title and reached the Champions League final largely through them. Despite having four Arsenal players in the squad, Tuchel failed to utilise dead-ball situations effectively. Defensively, England repeatedly allowed Messi to play short corners and receive the ball back in space. A similar routine led to Fernandez's equaliser, as England failed to bring a second man out to close down the threat.
Too Scared to Take Kane Off
With England sitting deep, pace on the counter-attack was essential. Gordon was substituted 17 minutes after scoring, leaving Kane and Bellingham with little to chase. Kane dropped deep but became ineffective as Argentina pushed forward without fear. Keeping Kane on allowed Argentina to dominate possession, whereas introducing counter-attacking threats like Marcus Rashford or Ollie Watkins could have changed the outcome.
