Tuchel defends tactics as England's World Cup exit sparks criticism

England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on July 16 in Atlanta has ignited widespread debate over manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical decisions. After Anthony Gordon gave England a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute, Argentina fought back with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the closing stages, securing their place in the final against Spain. Tuchel's decision to switch to a back-five formation around the 72nd minute and his reluctance to deploy attacking substitutes like Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka drew sharp criticism from former players and pundits. During a 36-minute second-half spell, England managed just 12 per cent possession. Former England captain Wayne Rooney described the approach as "a real panic," while Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Tuchel "didn't play his cards right." Gary Neville questioned the lack of a dedicated marker on Lionel Messi, who assisted both Argentina goals. Lionel Messi said his side sensed England's momentum drain away after the opening goal, adding: "We felt they didn't want it anymore." Despite the backlash, the Football Association has reaffirmed its support for Tuchel, who has a contract through Euro 2028. Tuchel defended his decisions, saying: "I don't regret my decisions. I took several decisions trusting my instinct, my intuition and my experience." He took full responsibility for the result and described the loss as a "scar we carry now." Tuchel also cited physical fatigue from earlier matches, particularly the Mexico game at altitude and the quarter-final against Norway in the Miami heat. Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni deserved credit for his all-or-nothing approach, adding: "The best team won." Rooney, while critical of Tuchel's tactics, argued the FA should stick with Tuchel unless Pep Guardiola becomes available. Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison echoed this view, saying that if Guardiola were available, the FA would be foolish not to act. Graeme Souness offered a different perspective, writing in The Telegraph that the players were not good enough and questioning the "world class" tag often applied to England players like Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. England will now face France in the third-place play-off on July 18 in Miami. Tuchel described the match as a chance to achieve England's best World Cup result in 60 years. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the semi-final, questioning why Harry Kane was deployed in a defensive role. Tuchel brushed off Trump's comments in a news conference. Additionally, Trump spoke about his call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding a red card suspension for USA striker Folarin Balogun, which FIFA later suspended. Infantino said the decision was made by an independent disciplinary committee and denied political interference, but Trump's comments have stirred further controversy.