England manager Thomas Tuchel has come under widespread criticism after his side’s 2-1 defeat by Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with former players and commentators questioning the tactical decisions that preceded the late comeback.
England appeared on course to reach the World Cup final after taking a 1-0 lead, but Argentina scored twice in the closing stages through Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez to overturn the deficit and book their place in the final.
Attention quickly turned to Tuchel’s substitutions, with the England coach facing scrutiny for introducing defensive changes while his team held a one-goal advantage with around 30 minutes remaining.
The tactical adjustments were viewed by critics as inviting sustained pressure from Argentina, who capitalised on their growing control of the game to score twice late on and eliminate England from the tournament.
The defeat ended England’s hopes of reaching the World Cup final and prompted immediate reaction from former players and media commentators.
Among those to question England’s approach was former striker Wayne Rooney, who expressed his disappointment with the team’s tactics after taking the lead.
“We sat back and let them come at us. They created chances, and we finally cracked. I’m really disappointed. The changes we made didn’t help us. I’m devastated.”
Rooney’s assessment reflected wider criticism from English pundits, many of whom argued that England became too defensive after moving in front.
According to the report, several international media organisations also criticised Tuchel’s tactical approach, with some describing his decisions as among the poorest managerial displays seen during the latter stages of a World Cup.
The reaction was not confined to England.
In Germany, where Tuchel has managed at the highest level, former internationals also questioned England’s decision to retreat after taking the lead.
Former defender Mats Hummels believed England became overly cautious once they were ahead.
“They simply barricaded themselves. Right after they went 1-0 up, Harry Kane cleared the ball from his own penalty spot. They retreated far too early.”
Former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger also suggested England should have shown greater ambition instead of attempting to defend their advantage.
“You have to have confidence to attack.”
The criticism centred on the belief that England surrendered the initiative after going in front, allowing Argentina to dominate possession and create increasing pressure during the closing stages of the match.
That pressure eventually told as Enzo Fernández equalised before Lautaro Martínez completed the turnaround with a late winner, sealing Argentina’s place in the World Cup final.
For Tuchel, the defeat represents a significant setback after England’s run to the last four of the tournament. The German coach now faces the challenge of lifting his squad following the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final after leading for much of the second half.
England’s attention will now switch to the third-place play-off against France, where they will have an opportunity to end their World Cup campaign with a victory.
However, the aftermath of the semi-final has been dominated by debate over Tuchel’s tactical choices, with criticism coming from former internationals in both England and Germany following England’s inability to protect their advantage against the defending world champions.
