Tuchel says England were too passive in World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina
England led through Anthony Gordon, then surrendered control as Argentina scored twice late and Thomas Tuchel blamed tactical passivity, not a curse.
Anthony Gordon put England ahead in Atlanta, but Argentina turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 semifinal victory and reached the World Cup final. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez finished the comeback in the second minute of added time, leaving England to settle for the third-place match and another exit short of a final.
Thomas Tuchel called England too passive after Anthony Gordon put them ahead in Atlanta. He rejected any suggestion that England are somehow cursed on the World Cup stage. He did not believe in that kind of explanation and framed the defeat as two different games, with Argentina changing the match after falling behind. England have not reached a World Cup final since 1966, and Tuchel pointed to the shift in Argentina’s approach once Gordon scored in the 55th minute.
From that moment, Argentina played with more risk, more tempo and the confidence of a side with nothing to lose. That loosened Lionel Scaloni’s team and forced England backward.
Tuchel accepted responsibility for the result and defended his own tactical calls, including a more defensive posture and a switch to a back five. The substitutions came because England could not play out cleanly from the back, and England were very close. England had given everything, but the decisive moments still belonged to Argentina.
Argentina face Sunday’s final in New Jersey against Spain. England face France for third place on Saturday.
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