Defiant Tuchel defends decisions, calls loss a 'scar we carry'

Thomas Tuchel, England's head coach, faced the media with a defiant stance following the team's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. He defended his tactical choices during the tense news conference, emphasizing that he shoulders the responsibility for the loss. "If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility," Tuchel stated, asserting that he has no regrets about the decisions made. He described the painful defeat as a "scar we carry now."

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If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility.

England was on the verge of reaching their first men's World Cup final in 60 years, holding a 1-0 lead late in the match. However, Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, mounted a comeback, ultimately winning 2-1. Tuchel admitted that his team became "too passive" in the latter stages of the game. He also acknowledged a performance gap between England and the top international teams, a gap he is determined to close.

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We didn't get the result. So I take, of course, the responsibility and for these decisions. I would regret if I didn't help. I would regret if we didn't react.

When questioned about captain Harry Kane playing deep in defense during the final minutes, Tuchel explained it was a consequence of defending in a "deep block." He noted that Argentina gained momentum after England's goal, making offensive changes and creating numerous scoring opportunities. "We could not stop the crosses, and we could not stop the runners into the box," Tuchel said, explaining the tactical shift to a back five to counter Argentina's pressure. He concluded by stating that while the 2-1 loss to the reigning world champions is painful, he stands by his decisions made to help the team, even without achieving the desired result.

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That's what you do if you defend in a block. We were not active enough.