Tuchel defends tactics after England World Cup dream dies

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England’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel

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England manager Thomas Tuchel defended his tactics after the Three Lions’ World Cup dream ended in an agonising late defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.

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England appeared poised to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon fired them into the lead early in the second half in Atlanta.

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But England then invited wave after wave of late pressure from the defending champions and goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez secured a famous 2-1 victory.

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Tuchel said his team had become “too passive” after taking the lead at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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“We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,” Tuchel told the BBC.

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“We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots,” the German coach added.

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“We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.”

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Tuchel is likely to face serious scrutiny for his substitutions, notably the decision to bring goalscorer Gordon off for defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute.

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“I did also offensive substitutions in the last games, we just tried to help the players,” he said.

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“We conceded a chance straight away and we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open.

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“Straight after our goal, without any substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help.”

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Asked later at a press conference whether he believed he got his tactics wrong, former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach Tuchel replied: “No, I believe that’s just the nature of the game.

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“As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It’s just what it is. No one knows what would have happened if we made different decisions.

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“So it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism.”

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Asked why England had shied away from a more adventurous approach when leading, Tuchel replied: “Yes, but it doesn’t help if you can’t get the ball. We couldn’t get out.

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“Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help.

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“We couldn’t win any balls, we couldn’t keep the ball so I think it was not a structural problem, we changed nothing. But the match changed completely.”

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Tuchel signed a two-year contract extension in February which lasts through to the 2028 European Championships which England is co-hosting.

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Asked if he expected to remain England manager after Wednesday’s defeat, the German indicated he plans to honour his contract that leads up the the 2028 European Championship.

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“We keep on going for contract until the home Euros, and I’m looking forward to that. Even like now, it’s difficult to look that far ahead,” he said.

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AFP

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