Gary Lineker has sparked controversy by jokingly suggesting that England manager Thomas Tuchel is a “German spy” following the Three Lions’ World Cup exit. The former England striker made the remark on the Netflix version of The Rest Is Football podcast after England’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Lineker's Spy Jibe and Tactical Critique
The 65-year-old said: “I just wonder whether Thomas Tuchel’s like a German spy, we’ve been infiltrated, I think Germany, because they’re not very good at the moment, they can’t get past the group stage, and I think they’ve sent in someone.” He quickly added, “I’m joking, I’m joking obviously,” before criticising Tuchel’s tactics.
Lineker pointed to Tuchel’s comments after the Croatia game, where he said England would lose “our way by playing aggressive, attacking football” if they lost. “He went totally against that, didn’t he?” Lineker said. “I think the most frustrating thing as well was this team, they had a chance if they’d gone for it, and they just got it I think so wrong.”
Questions Over Tuchel's Future
Lineker questioned whether Tuchel is the right man to lead England forward, though he stopped short of calling for his sacking. “I never ask for anyone to get sacked, I don’t think it’s the thing to do, but it depends on him and how he feels, and also how the FA feels,” he said.
Vieira Defends Stability
Former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira, a guest on the show, urged patience. “I believe in stability. After you make a decision with Tuchel... I think it would be mad, for me, to sack him or to change the coach,” he said.
Vieira noted that this was Tuchel’s first major tournament with England and that he will learn from the experience. “He will learn a lot about the players because he lived with them, he saw the players in a good moment and a really difficult period. He will learn a lot about the group but you need to give him at least the Euros and to see how far they can go.”
He added: “With the way they competed in this World Cup, there is no doubt that the Euros. England are going to win it, not to go to the semi-final, they are to go to win it. I think it will be mad for the FA to change that.”
England’s defeat to Argentina in Atlanta ended their World Cup campaign in the quarter-finals, with the team failing to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2018.
