Thomas Tuchel doesn’t dodge blame. That much is clear after England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal. The German manager made a defensive adjustment after Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener, and it blew up in his face.
Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute had England up 1-0. Wembley was rocking. But instead of holding the lead, England conceded twice in the final 18 minutes. The first goal came just eight minutes after Tuchel’s tactical shift. The second sealed it.
So what happened? Tuchel explained it plainly after the match: he switched to a back five because Argentina was overwhelming England’s midfield. They were winning headers, pumping crosses into the box, and creating chances England couldn’t handle. The idea was to pack the middle and win aerial duels. Instead, it opened up space on the flanks and left England’s defense scrambling.
Tuchel’s own words tell the story
“We just try to help the player,” Tuchel told reporters. “We conceded straight away. We decided to go to a back five, because the gaps were far too open. They won every header, they kept crossing and crossing. So we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be strong in the air.”
He added that the problems started before the subs. “Because straight after our goal with no substitution, just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances. We tried to help, but the responsibility is on the coach. If it doesn’t go well, it is easy to say it was wrong.”
And it didn’t go well. Not even close.
Argentina adjusted faster than England did. Lionel Messi found pockets of space between the center-backs and wing-backs. The midfield gap that Tuchel tried to close actually got wider because his defenders were unsure whether to step up or drop deep. Meanwhile, England’s attackers were isolated. Gordon couldn’t get touches. Jude Bellingham was forced to track back instead of pushing forward.
Was the plan doomed from the start?
Some analysts think Tuchel’s biggest mistake wasn’t the formation change itself but the timing. You don’t go defensive in a semifinal with 20 minutes left when your opponent has all the momentum. You bring on fresh legs in midfield, maybe a second striker to hold the ball up. You don’t invite pressure from a team that thrives on it.
Argentina scored in the 72nd minute through Julian Alvarez and again in the 84th via a header from Nicolas Otamendi. Both goals came from set-piece situations — the exact kind of scenario a back five is supposed to prevent.
Tuchel’s England tenure will be judged on this tournament. A World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina, in a game they led, with a tactical decision that backfired. That’s the kind of thing that sticks to a manager regardless of what happens next. Especially when you handed the mic to the press and told them it’s your fault.
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