England's journey in the World Cup ended in a devastating semi-final defeat to Argentina, a loss that some are calling the most painful in the nation's 60-year history of World Cup hurt.
Manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical decisions in the closing stages of the match have come under intense scrutiny. After taking a 1-0 lead, England adopted a defensive strategy, switching to a back five and making several substitutions. This approach, which had previously been successful in earlier knockout rounds against Mexico and Norway, proved ineffective against a motivated Argentine side. Between taking the lead and conceding the winning goal, England held only 12% possession.
Tuchel brought on defender Ezri Konsa for goalscorer Gordon with 18 minutes remaining, and later introduced Nico O'Reilly and Dan Burn for Declan Rice and Reece James. The late goals conceded were largely attributed to these tactical choices, which appeared to invite Argentine pressure.
Further questions have been raised regarding player selection. The late substitution of Ivan Toney, his first appearance of the tournament, occurred after 96 minutes, leading some to question if he was selected solely for a potential penalty shootout that never materialized. The focus on defensive selections, particularly at right-back, has also been a point of contention. The team struggled with the right-back position due to injuries, with players like Jarell Quansah and Djed Spence featuring before Reece James returned for the semi-final. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold, known for his attacking prowess, was reportedly overlooked due to perceived defensive weaknesses.
The decision to omit creative players such as Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Morgan Gibbs-White has also been revisited, though with the caveat of hindsight. The role of Jordan Henderson, whose tournament ended with an injury, was also debated; some suggested he could have been part of the backroom staff instead of occupying a playing spot, to allow for a younger, more creative player.
The defeat marks a significant disappointment for England, with Tuchel's tactical approach being a central theme in the post-match analysis. The sentiment of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" has been voiced in the wake of the loss.