England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina followed a painful pattern: taking an early lead, then retreating into a defensive shell, ultimately losing 2-1. Thomas Tuchel, hired to overcome such shortcomings, instead repeated the mistakes of his predecessors.
Gordon's Goal Sparks Hope, Then Fear
Anthony Gordon fired England ahead in the 55th minute, converting Morgan Rogers' cross. For a moment, Tuchel's decision to start Rogers seemed inspired. But instead of pushing for a second, England dropped deep, inviting pressure. They managed just 12% possession between going 1-0 up and falling 2-1 behind, according to match statistics.
Argentina equalised through Enzo Fernández, who scored from long range with no England player closing him down. The winner came from Lautaro Martínez, an attacking substitute introduced by Lionel Scaloni, who outwitted Tuchel with his changes.
Tuchel's Defensive Changes Backfire
Tuchel switched to a back five, replacing Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa. Other attacking options like Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke remained on the bench. "These were changes that would have led to Southgate and Eriksson being hammered," wrote Jacob Steinberg in his analysis for the Guardian. Tuchel later accepted responsibility, saying his substitutions backfired.
Midfield Overrun, Kane Invisible
England's midfield of Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, and Jude Bellingham was outclassed by Alexis Mac Allister and Fernández. Harry Kane, deployed as a lone striker, was invisible, often dropping deep to defend. Jordan Pickford made a spectacular save from Cristian Romero, but England failed to mount any meaningful attacks after the goal, finishing with just one shot on target.
Familiar Failings Resurface
The defeat echoed past England collapses: Sven-Göran Eriksson's side squandered leads against France and Portugal at Euro 2004, and Gareth Southgate's team lost after scoring first against Croatia and Italy. "It is a very English trait, that inclination to hold what we have against the best sides," Steinberg noted.
Tuchel, a Champions League winner with Chelsea, was expected to bring tactical flexibility. But his side lacked identity, struggling against low blocks throughout the tournament. The German coach made no substitutions to address midfield fatigue, leaving Kobbie Mainoo, a nimble technician, unused on the bench.
Argentina's Intent vs. England's Fear
Scaloni removed defensive midfielder Leandro Paredes for winger Nicolás González, signaling attacking intent. Tuchel responded with defensive changes, including bringing on Dan Burn to mark Lionel Messi. "Argentina showed intent. Tuchel showed fear," Steinberg wrote. The result was inevitable: England defended desperately for over 30 minutes before finally conceding.
England's World Cup dream ended in Atlanta, with familiar questions about mentality and game management. Tuchel's reputation as a master tactician took a hit, as his team failed to learn from past mistakes.
