TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thomas Tuchel’s England suffered a painful World Cup semifinal exit after losing to Argentina, but the defeat has raised bigger questions than the scoreline. The German manager’s tactical decisions, especially his substitutions and defensive approach after England took the lead, have become the focus of debate.
Who is Thomas Tuchel?
Thomas Tuchel is a German football manager known for his tactical expertise and success at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. According to USA Today, before taking charge of England, he managed Chelsea FC, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 2021, as well as Paris Saint-Germain FC and Bayern Munich. His reputation is built around detailed preparation, tactical adjustments, and adapting formations during matches.
Tuchel was appointed England manager with the expectation that his experience at elite clubs could help the national team finally overcome its struggles in major tournaments.
What went wrong against Argentina?
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon early in the second half, but the team struggled to maintain control afterward. Instead of continuing to press forward, England became increasingly defensive as Argentina increased the pressure.
As ESPN reported, Tuchel’s decision to switch to a back five and make defensive substitutions became the main talking point after the match. He added more defensive players to close off spaces and deal with Argentina’s aerial threat. However, the changes failed to stop Argentina’s comeback.
Argentina eventually equalized through Enzo Fernandez before Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in stoppage time. England captain Harry Kane said the team “seemed to try to hold on” after taking the lead, which allowed Argentina to dominate possession and create chances.
Tuchel takes responsibility
After the defeat, Tuchel accepted responsibility for the tactical decisions, saying the coach must be accountable when changes do not work, The Guardian reported. However, he said he had no regrets and believed England had been close to reaching the final.
The loss has raised questions about whether Tuchel’s cautious approach aligns with England’s ambitions. However, supporters and analysts are divided on whether the problem was the manager’s tactics or the players’ inability to regain control after scoring.
Read: Argentina Returns to World Cup Final After Ousting England