adminEngland legends Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney have launched a fierce attack on Thomas Tuchel after the Three Lions suffered a heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The German coach’s decision to abandon attack and sit deep backfired dramatically as late strikes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 nightmare.
Lineker slams ‘astonishing’ tactical shift
Lineker was scathing in his critique of Tuchel’s in-game management after Anthony Gordon’s opener in Atlanta.
The former striker expressed utter bewilderment at the choice to withdraw attacking players and adopt a low block, which ultimately invited Lionel Messi and co. to pile on relentless pressure.
On The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker fumed: “We went 1-0 up, then dropped deep. The substitutions he made only pushed us deeper. It becomes a back five and you’re thinking, ‘we’ll play a low block’ against a team that thrives against it. It made zero sense to me.
“Tactically, it was astonishing, honestly. It was a negative move. We were all watching the same game, saying the same thing.
“I found it completely unfathomable. You have a plan, you’re facing the greatest footballer ever. Get tight to him [Messi]. Instead, he whipped cross after cross after cross into the box.”
Rooney: Tuchel cost us a final spot
Rooney joined the criticism, arguing that the manager’s lack of attacking intent drained confidence from the players on the pitch. The Manchester United great was especially frustrated by how England squandered their momentum just as they appeared to have the world champions on the ropes.
“We have to be honest—Thomas Tuchel’s decisions cost us tonight,” Rooney said. “If you’re an attacker out there and you go 1-0 up, then see the changes the manager is making, you lose belief. You can only get away with that so many times.
“Then you start thinking, ‘oh no, we’re going to sit back this long—how are we going to hold on?’ It’s panic, real panic. You can’t take the lead and then just surrender the ball and any chance of getting a second. That’s what you should be chasing.
“If you give players of that quality the ball around your box, eventually they’ll score.”
Southgate comparisons resurface
The defeat inevitably drew parallels with the previous regime, as former goalkeeper Joe Hart observed that familiar flaws continue to haunt England. Despite a change in manager, the tendency to shut up shop in key moments remains a glaring weakness.
Hart noted: “I think Gareth Southgate will be watching at home and thinking—he took plenty of criticism for those big-game moments when England sat back after taking the lead.
“I don’t see anything changing in that big moment out there. For all the praise we’ve given Tuchel, to change it as early as he did—I think that shows he didn’t believe in his team, didn’t think they could land any more blows on Argentina.”
Müller and Casillas voice disbelief
Thomas Müller and Iker Casillas also expressed shock at England’s approach.
Müller said in a video on X: “I cannot believe or understand how England approached this game, especially after taking the lead. To just invite Argentina to whip cross after cross from perfect positions, over and over… but no matter.”
Casillas echoed the sentiment, posting on X: “[England] score and then sit back. A cowardly approach. They barely left their own box and allowed [Argentina] to push forward. The logical outcome happens.” He added that Tuchel’s side had committed “harakiri”—a traditional Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment, underscoring his view that England had effectively self-destructed.
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