Senior England players are reportedly unhappy with Thomas Tuchel after the team's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, with at least three players making private complaints about his defensive tactics. The Three Lions lost 2-1 in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday evening, squandering a lead given by Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute strike.
Defensive Approach Backfires
After taking the lead, England sat in a low block and invited pressure from Argentina, a decision that ultimately proved costly. Tuchel introduced defenders Nico O'Reilly, Dan Burn, and Ezri Konsa, at one point fielding six defenders. However, Argentina equalised through Enzo Fernandez with five minutes remaining, and Lautaro Martinez headed the winner in stoppage time. Only then did Tuchel bring on attackers Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney, but it was too late.
Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett said: "A lot of England's players, and some of the senior players, I might say, are not happy with the decisions that Thomas Tuchel took." The BBC reported that at least three players complained privately about the approach during the dying minutes.
Tuchel Defends Tactics
Tuchel, 52, reaffirmed his commitment to his contract through Euro 2028 and dismissed claims that he instructed his side to sit deep. He claimed he told his starting XI to "play higher up" and blamed the team's inability to retain possession. "I think ball possession plays a crucial role. It's maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish, Argentinian or Brazilian DNA," he said. "We got too passive within our structure. I tried to help, not to become more passive with a back five, but to be more active."
Despite the criticism, Tuchel pointed to a lack of physicality and failure to stop runs into the box as key issues. "No structure in the world could have helped us because we were too passive," he added.
What's Next for England
England will now face France in a third-place play-off on Saturday evening. Argentina will play Spain in Sunday's final as they bid to retain the trophy they won four years ago. Fans have called for Tuchel's dismissal, but he remains focused on the upcoming match.
