15 Jul 2026 23:14:35
For those querying the tactics what would you do if you're totally under the kosh, on the back foot against one of the best teams in the world?
Do you a) make attacking changes and risk blowing it in 5 minutes
Or b) make defensive changes and try and shore things up?
For me the logical answer would be the 2nd option which is what Tuchel did. It didn't work out because Argentina are just simply the better side with the better players and a better team mentality.
England have been (and will continue to be if they don't make serious changes) a team full of individuals who think they're better than they are
16 Jul 2026 07:17:28
First off, I'm not England's biggest fan, not because of the players but the media. I get they will be excited, etc., but every single game that they are not in, they have to be mentioned and run a segment on them.
They had an incredibly easy run to the final (Mexico excluded), but to sit there and type that they're a team full of individuals who think they're better than they are is nonsense. They have plenty of talent, just never a manager capable of big decisions.
At the time of England scoring, they chose to sit back and defend, to which the manager decides at 73 minutes to change to a back 5.
That's what cost them the game. They had no out ball, they couldn't press with Kane up there.
For me, he should have dropped Kane to a 10 role, brought Watkins on. He should have brought Saka and Rashford on so they could stretch Argentina on the break.
His changes alone let them dictate all of the ball inside England's half, and it was his demise, not the players.
16 Jul 2026 07:21:59
Lost all control of midfield, you could see Anderson gesturing to the bench when another CM went off! You can't have 12% possession after you score and go on to win the game against the reigning champs. Defensive is ok, but that was ridiculous.
16 Jul 2026 07:37:50
I think plenty of people mentioned that England's main weakness was defence.
To run for almost half an hour hoping that defence would hold out wasn't Tuchel's best decision.
But hey ho, result & Messi assist made me few shekels. 🤑
16 Jul 2026 07:39:06
Agreed, BBJ and R1. 👍
16 Jul 2026 07:41:28
They weren't under the cosh until he went all out defence though, Goram. Maybe in last 5/10 mins, u try and hold on, but not half an hour, esp when u are on top. Argentina were class at the end, and never gave up, but Tuchel's changes definitely let them come at them from the moment England went ahead.
16 Jul 2026 07:55:43
Agree, Big Blue, the manager's tactics were poor.
16 Jul 2026 08:28:46
England stopped playing.
Tuchel then took off one of our balls in Gordon and brought on a defender and pushed another defender into midfield.
And when he made further defensive changes, it played right into Messi's hand.
Those tactics were fine with 10 men against Mexico.
16 Jul 2026 08:33:37
Tuchel's tactical switch after their goal cost them the game. No two ways about it.