Thomas Tuchel walked into a buzzsaw. England’s World Cup run ended the same way it always does — with Lionel Messi lifting a trophy and the English press sharpening knives. But this time the postmortem feels different because the roster itself was a collection of head-scratchers from the jump.
Let’s start with the decision that still makes no sense. Trevoh Chalobah got a plane ticket. Trent Alexander-Arnold did not. Tino Livramento got hurt before the tournament and instead of calling up arguably the best passer England has, Tuchel took a defender he never used for a single minute. That’s not a gut feeling. That’s a wasted roster spot.
Jordan Henderson was another one. If he’s that essential in the dressing room, fine — bring him as a coach. Don’t burn one of 26 spots on a midfielder whose most memorable tournament moment was breaking his wrist falling over an advertising board. There were younger, faster, more useful players who could have actually played.
The Midfield Problem Nobody Talked About
Declan Rice looked cooked before the tournament even hit the knockout rounds. He played an absurd amount of football last season and it showed. He was bedridden with an illness for three days and never looked sharp after that. England’s midfield got overrun against Argentina and Kobbie Mainoo sat on the bench the whole time. A fresh pair of legs who could have changed the game’s rhythm and he never got the nod.
Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers got thrown onto the right wing — not his natural spot — and actually looked decent there. Tuchel said it was a gut feeling to play him out wide. Maybe he should have tested that earlier because the right side was a black hole for most of the tournament. Anthony Gordon blew hot and cold. Cole Wilson (The article says ‘James’ but it’s probably Reece James) got hurt again, which surprised exactly nobody who has watched him play more than five games in a row.
What Went Wrong Against Argentina
The semi-final loss was a masterclass in self-sabotage. Tuchel switched to a back five in the second half and brought on Ezri Konsa, a center-back who spent the dying minutes of a World Cup semifinal trying to take long throws and whip crosses in. That’s not a tactical masterstroke. That’s panic.
Jarell Quansah had a decent tournament except for the moment he absolutely lost his mind against Mexico. He clattered into Jesus Gallardo near the touchline with a challenge that made no sense — Gallardo was covered, Quansah could have just stayed on his feet and easily gotten to the ball. Instead he flew over it, missed entirely, and buried his studs into a shin. Stupid is the only word for it.
The Guys Who Actually Showed Up
Jude Bellingham was the best player on the team and it wasn’t close. He delivered against Norway, Mexico, and Panama when England needed someone to take control. Tuchel moved him out wide after England grabbed the lead against Argentina and that might have been the turning point. You don’t move your best player away from the center of the pitch when you need to hold onto a game.
Harry Kane scored six goals, which ties the England record for a single World Cup. But his last goal came in the 60th minute against Mexico on a penalty and he was invisible against Argentina. That’s the problem with Kane’s tournament in a nutshell — great numbers, quiet when it counted most.
Elliott Anderson was the engine the midfield needed while Rice struggled. He was third on the team in decisive actions per 90 minutes and led all outfield players in minutes played aside from Kane. Manchester City paid £120 million for him. That looks like a fair price right now.
Max O’Reilly was England’s best left-back all tournament. Then Tuchel dropped him for the semi-final and only brought him on as a midfielder. You have a guy with the pace to stretch a tired Argentina defense and you play him in the middle of the park. Why?
England’s World Cup ended the way it always does — with questions that should have been answered before the first game. Tuchel’s roster choices will be picked apart for years and the tape from the Argentina loss will be Exhibit A. Bellingham deserved better than this supporting cast.
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