Tuchel: 'No Regrets'... 'We Played One of Our Best Games'

England manager Thomas Tuchel stood by his controversial tactical choices following his team's exit from the World Cup semifinals. Despite a 2-1 defeat to Argentina, Tuchel asserted he has no regrets about the approach taken, even after conceding a lead.

"No me arrepiento de nada. El equipo lo dio todo y estuvimos muy, muy cerca," Tuchel stated in a FIFA interview. He felt the team deserved to be ahead after scoring the first goal. "Jugamos uno de nuestros mejores partidos, tal vez el mejor dadas las circunstancias," he added, praising his players' effort.

However, Tuchel conceded that England's strategy shifted to excessive passivity after taking the lead. "Estuvimos muy cerca, pero nos volvimos demasiado pasivos después de marcar; concedimos muchas ocasiones y no pudimos revertir la posesión del balón," he explained. This defensive posture allowed Argentina to mount a comeback.

Tuchel specifically addressed the decision to adopt a more defensive stance with 35 minutes remaining after scoring. He admitted the team struggled to maintain possession and control of the game, leading to a continuous stream of dangerous opportunities for the opposition. "A partir de ahí, nos limitamos a conceder muchísimos centros, ocasiones y tiros," he concluded.