Pundits turn on Tuchel in meltdown over England's exit

ATLANTA — England hired a German coach to end 60 years of hurt, but saw its World Cup hopes come crashing down in the most English of ways.

Another defeat in the semifinals. Another defeat from a winning position.

The English media was predictably critical of coach Thomas Tuchel after Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Argentina.

"Same old story" read one headline. Another declared that "Tuchel just shrank".

Tuchel, a serial trophy-winning coach with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, was hired to put a second star on England's jersey and end the decades-long wait for a first trophy since the World Cup in 1966.

The wait goes on.

Former England captain Gary Lineker raised the question about Tuchel's future, saying he was "brought in specifically to take us over the line".

"Is he the right man to take us forward?" Lineker posited on his Netflix show The Rest is Football. "He just got it so wrong in the big moment."

Tuchel's predecessor, Gareth Southgate, was credited with making England fans fall back in love with the men's national team after years of underachievement.

He reached back-to-back European Championship finals, but, ultimately, fell short, with his supposed cautious approach said to have cost England in clutch matches.

Southgate's substitutions were criticized, as were his tactics, when England relinquished leads against Croatia in the World Cup semifinals in 2018 and Italy in the final of the Euros three years later.

There was criticism of the English soccer federation's decision to turn to a German, but Tuchel, a Champions League winner, was supposed to be difference maker in those key moments.

Leading 1-0 going into the 85th minute, and in a defensive shell, England saw its hopes shattered by late goals from Argentina's Enzo Fernandez and second-half substitute Lautaro Martinez.

"It's a real panic. You can't go a goal up and then surrender the ball, and surrender any opportunity of trying to get the second goal," former England captain Wayne Rooney told the BBC. "I just think the decisions Thomas Tuchel made, and I think we have to be honest on this, have cost us tonight."

Lineker said Tuchel's tactics and substitutions after going 1-0 up "made zero sense".

Tuchel, who signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the World Cup, stood by his decisions.

"As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It's just what it is," Tuchel said. "No one knows what would have happened if I had made different decisions, so it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head.

"I'm responsible for (the decisions). I took them, so I take the criticism. That's just the way it is."

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said shortly after the loss that it was "heartbreaking to be so close".

"The players and Thomas gave it everything today, and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament," he said in a statement.

"I would like to thank them all — and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home. We felt your support every step of the way and we are all so disappointed not to go further."

England will face France in the third-place game on Saturday in Miami.

Defeat to defending champion Argentina continued a pattern for the England men at the World Cup.

It has not beaten one of the traditional major nations at soccer's biggest tournament since its 1-0 win over Argentina in the group stage in 2002. Before that, England beat France in the group stage in 1982.

As well its three knockout losses apiece to Argentina and Germany, eliminations have also come at the hands of Brazil, Portugal and France. There was also the 2018 semifinals defeat to Croatia, a team that has never won a major trophy.

Tuchel, however, does not buy into the narrative that repeated failure is a specifically English problem.

"I love to see these things in a football manner and through a football lens, so, first of all, I always think it's solvable on the football field," he said. "I don't believe so much in it being an English thing, or in a curse or whatever, or history repeating itself."

With Britain and Ireland preparing to co-host Euro 2028, Tuchel is looking ahead.

"I have a contract until the home Euros, and I'm looking forward to that, even if, right now, it is difficult to look that far ahead," Tuchel said.

AP