Several England players have reportedly voiced concerns over Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decisions during the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The England boss has faced heavy criticism after his side surrendered a one-goal advantage with just six minutes left before conceding the winner in stoppage time.
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Anthony Gordon’s opener appeared to put the Three Lions on track for their first World Cup final appearance since 1966.
But the momentum shifted dramatically once England adopted a more defensive approach, allowing Argentina to pile on relentless pressure.
In a bid to preserve the lead, Tuchel introduced several defensive substitutions, though the strategy ultimately failed.
England finished the game with six defenders on the field while operating in a 5-4-1 system, with Nico O’Reilly deployed in central midfield.
The Three Lions struggled to leave their own half during the closing moments, enabling Argentina to capitalise by scoring twice in quick succession to complete the comeback.
Argentina’s dominance was reflected in the statistics, with England managing only 12 per cent possession between Gordon’s opening goal and Lisandro Martinez’s decisive header.
Many observers have pointed the finger at Tuchel for England’s collapse, and it appears some members of the squad share that opinion.
According to BBC Sport, at least three experienced England players privately questioned the team’s tactical setup during the closing stages of the match.
Some within the squad believed England should have continued playing on the front foot instead of sitting back, with one source saying: “They went deep too early.”
The report follows Tuchel’s defence of his tactical decisions after the defeat, where he instead suggested England’s footballing culture played a part in the result.
He said: “I haven’t seen the data yet, but I think just right after the goal the momentum swings completely and ball possession drops dramatically. We couldn’t find any duels anymore, that’s why we dropped deeper and deeper.
“It was never the plan, but it happened. We couldn’t stop the runners from the second line, the midfielders, through our gaps, and the deliveries were on the highest level.
“You need to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back. I think ball possession plays a crucial role.
“It’s maybe not in our DNA, like it is in our Spanish DNA or in our Argentinian or Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.”
