Argentina's jubilant media have mocked England's tactics and Jude Bellingham's performance after the World Cup semi-final, with predictable references to the Falklands and Lionel Messi. Thomas Tuchel's defensive approach after Anthony Gordon's opener backfired, as late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez sent Lionel Scaloni's side into the final against Spain.
Media Reactions
Sports daily Ole declared: "Argentina humiliated England's defensiveness" and that Tuchel's team "fell into the trap of nervousness." It scathingly added: "The chivalry and fair play they sell as their emblem were left behind in London." The same publication repeatedly hammered Jude Bellingham, repeating the phrase "And Bellingham? Nothing" four times in its match report.
La Nacion suggested Tuchel's substitutions played into Argentina's hands, stating: "Tuchel did his part by making defensive changes, ending up with a 5-4-1 formation (as he had already done in other matches of this World Cup), but that also gave the team the option of long-range shots: it was from one of these (on another short corner taken by Messi) that Enzo Fernández made it 1-1."
Criticism of Key Players
The English-language Buenos Aires Times said England will "live to regret sitting back after Gordon's opener" and took aim at Bellingham and Harry Kane: "The key men for Thomas Tuchel's side during this campaign have been Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, yet they failed to deliver on this occasion."
Pagina12 invoked a famous Diego Maradona quote about River Plate: "There's a famous quote from Diego that refers to a certain attitude of the opposing team in the second half and the fall of an article of clothing. Well, what a thing to see in England. They've certainly earned their footballing reputation. Tuchel's team sat back excessively and invited an Argentina side that, with so much at stake, would have easily overwhelmed them anyway." The quote: "River was River. They played a great first half and in the second half, their underwear fell off."
Statistical Domination
Infobae noted England had just 12 per cent possession after taking the lead, "with a defensive approach that manager Thomas Tuchel intensified by replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa." Despite the defeat, Tuchel, who signed a new contract before the tournament, looks set to stay on for Euro 2028 in the UK. He said: "I have a contract until the home Euros and I'm looking forward to that even like now it is difficult to look that far ahead."
