Tuchel under fire after England's World Cup semifinal collapse against Argentina

England's hopes of winning the World Cup were extinguished once more, as Argentina staged a dramatic comeback to secure a 2-1 victory in the semifinals. The loss means the Three Lions will have to wait even longer to end their title drought, which dates back to 1966.

Thomas Tuchel's squad was on the cusp of reaching the final after Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute, giving England a crucial lead. However, this advantage proved fragile as Argentina intensified their pressure in the closing stages. Enzo Fernandez leveled the score in the 85th minute with a long-range effort, and Lautaro Martinez sealed the win for Argentina in stoppage time, sparking jubilant celebrations for the defending champions.

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England will never have a better chance to reach the final. They were five minutes plus stoppage time away from the final.

Post-match, British media outlets unleashed a barrage of criticism, largely directed at coach Thomas Tuchel and his tactical decisions during the latter part of the match. Pundits expressed dismay that the team retreated deep into their own half after taking the lead, effectively ceding control to Argentina. This defensive posture, they argued, allowed the South American giants to find their rhythm and ultimately secure the comeback.

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They became too narrow and dropped too deep.

Gary Neville, analyzing for Sky Sports, lamented the missed opportunity, stating, "England will never have a better chance to reach the final." He specifically criticized the team's reaction after scoring, noting they became "too narrow and dropped too deep." Reporter Rob Dorsett directly questioned Tuchel's strategic choices, suggesting the coach, hired for his supposed tactical acumen in knockout games, erred by prioritizing game management over maintaining attacking pressure. Roy Keane offered his typically blunt assessment: "The better team won."

British tabloids echoed the sentiment of disappointment with headlines such as Mirror's "English agony" and Daily Mail's description of a "cruel end" after letting the lead slip. The Sun summarized the feeling with "The dream is over," while the Daily Express highlighted the painful blow dealt by Argentina to England's aspirations. This recurring pattern of falling short leaves England facing another cycle of waiting and hoping for a future opportunity.

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The better team won.