Tuchel defends late changes after England’s World Cup exit
Argentina scored twice late to beat England 2-1 in Atlanta and set up a World Cup final against Spain.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
England’s World Cup run ended in Atlanta after Argentina overturned a late deficit to win their semifinal 2-1. The result sent defending champion Argentina into the final against Spain and left Thomas Tuchel defending the tactical shift he made as England tried to protect a one-goal lead.
According to AP, England went ahead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon, but Lionel Messi created both Argentina goals in the closing stages. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez scored in the second minute of stoppage time.
Tuchel said England changed shape because Argentina were repeatedly sending balls into the penalty area. “They won every header. They kept crossing and crossing. So we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be stronger in the air,” Tuchel said, according to AP.
The England coach said his team had already been under sustained pressure before he made substitutions. “Straight after our goal, with no substitutions, we just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances. So we tried to help,” Tuchel said.
Tuchel also accepted that the outcome would bring criticism. “But of course the responsibility is on the coach. And… if it doesn’t go well, it’s easy to say that it was wrong,” he said.
Late substitutions did not stop Argentina’s surge
AP reported that Tuchel brought on defender Dan Burn for Reece James and defender Nico O’Reilly for midfielder Declan Rice in the 82nd minute. Fernandez scored about three minutes later, after Messi found him near the edge of the area.
England’s defenders did not close Fernandez down before he struck a right-footed shot from just outside the box, according to AP. The ball curled beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to level the match.
Argentina continued to press after the equaliser. AP reported that the defending champions hit the crossbar and missed another headed chance before Martinez scored the winner, heading in from close range after England lost track of him on a Messi cross.
Martinez said England faded after a high-energy start. “They got tired,” he said, according to AP. “They pressed for 60 minutes and then just ran out of steam. They got their goal and then sat back. That gave us more composure to move the ball around and stretch the pitch.”
England falls short of first final since 1966
The defeat denied England a return to the World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in 1966. AP described the match as one of the biggest fixtures in one of football’s best-known rivalries, with Tuchel’s decisions likely to face scrutiny.
Opta said England’s loss was only the second time this century that a team scoring first in a World Cup semifinal failed to reach the final. The previous case was also England, against Croatia in 2018.
England striker Harry Kane said the team had played well for much of the night but retreated too much after taking the lead. “Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on, which at this level is not enough,” Kane said, according to AP.
Kane added: “Just gutted, gutted. Because we’ve worked so hard to get here.”
Argentina will now face Spain in the World Cup final. Spain reached the title match after beating France 2-0, according to AP.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.