Several pundits have rued England’s lack of ruthlessness in their 2026 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s team took the lead on 55 minutes when Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon turned home a right-wing cross from Morgan Rogers.
But the Three Lions slowly retreated into their own half in a bid to protect their 1-0 lead – and a move to a five-man defensive backline backfired, with Enzo Fernandez equalising on 86 minutes and Lautaro Martinez heading home a stoppage-time winner.
Argentina talisman Lionel Messi set up both goals to steer his team, who are the defending champions, into Sunday’s final with Spain in New York.
Too narrow and deep
And ITV Sport pundit Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “England will never have a better chance to reach a final than that.
“They were five minutes plus stoppage time away from the final.
“They got too narrow and too deep. It was very similar to the Euros final against Italy.
“It’s about mentality and belief for England, and a bit of quality to keep the ball.
“I can’t believe how many times I have seen this from England in a tournament.”
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Defensive decision backfired
Former England captain Alan Shearer bemoaned the defensive tactics of Tuchel, saying: “England had six defenders on the pitch, (he) played his hand and wanted to hang on.
“Hanging on vs Norway and Mexico.. they perhaps don’t have the quality Argentina have in terms of ability on the ball and to punish, plus their attitude.
“He played his cards very early in the hope he could hang on and it backfired.
“Those decisions are the ones which can make such a difference.”
Same old England, says Hart
Tuchel replaced Sir Gareth Southgate, who steered England to successive European Championship finals against Italy and Spain, before falling at the final hurdle.
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said of Tuchel’s England reign: “I don’t see anything’s changed in that big moment out there.
“Thomas Tuchel, for as much praise as we’ve given him, for him to change it as soon as he did, I think he realised that’s him saying he didn’t believe in his team, he didn’t think they could land any more punches on Argentina.”
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Look forward and learn
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson was equally as unimpressed by Tuchel’s defensive approach after seeing England get their noses ahead in the game.
He told Sky Sports: “Gareth Southgate took a lot of stick for being defensive – and I thought he did well – and Tuchel has come in and done the same as Gareth.
“I understand it in the Mexico game when we are down to 10 men and we are going to be under the cosh, but here we had to throw something different at them.
“I understand Gareth being a defensive coach, he was a defender, so naturally he is going to be defensive.
“But I didn’t think that about Tuchel and I thought he would throw something different at Argentina and put the pressure on them.
“We’ve got to learn from it and look forward to the Euros.”
Coaching catastrophe
And former England striker Chris Sutton said: “It was a coaching catastrophe from Thomas Tuchel.
“The fact that England get themselves in front and then basically hand Argentina the initiative, defending deep, another defender on.
“It’s quite a simple game, football – you have to get up the pitch.
“You can’t expect to defend for 30 minutes against the quality Argentina have and keep giving the ball back to them, that’s what England did and it’s all on the coach as far as I’m concerned.”
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