Argentina Knocks England Out of World Cup Semi-Final

Gordon struck for England in the 55th minute, securing a temporary advantage.

England then surrendered numerous chances and crosses, losing control of the match.

Thomas Tuchel's late-game switch to a 5-4-1 formation immediately drew widespread scrutiny from former players and pundits.

Wayne Rooney stated Tuchel's substitutions directly cost England the match, asserting the changes created negative outcomes for the players.

Joe Hart criticized Tuchel's defensive substitutions, describing the swift tactical shift as a clear abandonment of his team's attacking capabilities.

Micah Richards observed Tuchel, brought in to make a difference, made tactical errors, particularly with the shift to five at the back.

Richards believed England could have maintained offensive momentum by introducing wingers instead of adopting a more defensive posture.

Iker Casillas claimed England adopted a 'cowardly approach' by dropping back after scoring, a move that directly led to their downfall.

England struggled to retain possession in the final stages, unable to escape pressure or shift momentum.

Tuchel, whose contract with England extends through the 2028 Euros, stated England played with 'FEAR' under Gareth Southgate, a historical context he frequently references.

He claimed England feared dropping out of the tournament more than they possessed the excitement and hunger to win it, a recurring theme in his post-match analyses.

Tuchel suggested England were on the back foot even before his changes, despite playing one of their better matches, perhaps their best under the circumstances.

He did not believe an offensive substitution would help after England took the lead, noting the match changed completely after the goal without any personnel changes.

Tuchel asserted England became passive, unable to win or keep the ball after scoring, attributing this to a lack of activity rather than a structural problem within the team.

He detailed England's struggles: not fighting duels, failing to get close to play on the ball, struggling to defend crosses, and poor positioning in the box.

Furthermore, Tuchel noted England did not stop runners into the box and lacked physicality in the last defensive line, highlighting specific defensive breakdowns.

Lionel Messi played a key role for Argentina throughout the match, consistently influencing their offensive flow and dictating play.

Looking towards future implications for the squad, Michael Owen maintained England is a superior team to Argentina, suggesting that with more tactical acumen, England would be European champions and close to becoming world champions.