England players blame Tuchel's conservative tactics for World Cup semifinal loss: report

Published Jul 19, 01:41 PM UTC

According to a Daily Telegraph investigation, England players blamed head coach Thomas Tuchel for their 2-1 comeback loss to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal. Sources said the team 'threw the game away' due to Tuchel's conservative tactics after taking a 1-0 lead, including defensive substitutions that surrendered control. Players were shocked that Bukayo Saka remained on the bench while defensive players were brought on. Ezri Konsa's absence was also criticized, as he had started every previous game and England never lost with him playing 90 minutes. Captain Harry Kane and defender Marc Guehi both publicly stated that protecting a lead was insufficient at this level. The report also highlights Tuchel's excessive squad rotation (17 changes in 7 games) and 20 in-game tactical adjustments, far more than any other coach, indicating uncertainty. Tuchel had previously criticized England's lack of 'playing style' under Southgate, but his own team displayed similar issues. The article notes that England's run was largely due to the form of Kane and Jude Bellingham rather than Tuchel's tactics.