Tuchel takes responsibility for the collapse and admits England's mistakes

Thomas Tuchel took responsibility for England's World Cup exit after their semi-final defeat to Argentina, asserting that their complacency after scoring the opening goal was the primary reason for missing out on a place in the final. England were close to reaching the final after taking the lead through Anthony Gordon and maintained their advantage until the final minutes, before the match dramatically turned in Argentina's favor. Lionel Messi provided two crucial assists for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, securing a 2-1 victory for his country. Following the match, Tuchel admitted that England lost their attacking edge after taking the lead, explaining that the players failed to maintain possession or press their opponents effectively. The England manager said, "We are very disappointed. We were very close, but we became passive after scoring the goal and gave Argentina many chances. We couldn't keep possession or control the tempo of the game." Tuchel explained that he resorted to adjusting the formation by employing five defenders to counter Argentina's threat from aerial balls and crosses, noting that the decision stemmed from the gaps that appeared in the back line. He added that Argentina excelled in aerial duels and relied heavily on crosses, so the coaching staff tried to close down the spaces and reduce the opponent's threat, but he admitted that the plan did not prevent the dramatic shift in the course of the match. The German coach affirmed his full responsibility, stating that the coach is the first to bear the brunt of criticism when things don't go as planned, emphasizing that tactical decisions are always subject to discussion after matches. Tuchel indicated that he instructed his players to seek a second goal and not retreat, but explained that losing possession and the difficulty in building attacks made the task more complicated. He stressed that the problem was not only in the defensive organization, but also in the change in the game's dynamic after conceding the opening goal. The England coach concluded by affirming his understanding of the criticism he would face after the elimination, pointing out that evaluating decisions is always easier after the final whistle, while making crucial decisions is much more difficult under pressure on the pitch.