English football legends blame coach Tuchel for World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina

England's hopes of winning the World Cup were extinguished in a heart-wrenching 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, leaving the team to ponder what might have been. After taking a 55th-minute lead through Anthony Gordon, England's dreams of reaching the final crumbled as Argentina mounted a late comeback.

Enzo Fernandez leveled the score in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez sealed the victory for Argentina with a goal deep into stoppage time, sparking jubilant celebrations for the South American side. The dramatic turnaround left English players and fans in despair, marking another World Cup campaign that ended in disappointment.

Following the match, a wave of criticism was directed at England's coach, Thomas Tuchel, with former players and pundits accusing him of overly defensive play. Wayne Rooney argued that Tuchel's decision to introduce three defensive players after taking the lead sent a message that England intended only to defend, rather than maintain a bold, dominant approach. Alan Shearer echoed this sentiment, stating that Tuchel's attempt to protect a minimal lead too early left the team with no attacking options and ultimately led to their downfall.