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England’s lead slips
England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta ended with a late turnaround after Anthony Gordon put England ahead and then Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored after the lead, sending Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain.
“England head coach Thomas Tuchel is expecting his players to put everything into their World Cup third-place play-off against France”
The Independent said the criticism of England head coach Thomas Tuchel centered on “ultra-defensive substitutions at 1-0,” which it said invited more pressure with time remaining.
BBC Sport reported that Tuchel, after the 2-1 defeat, urged his squad to finish strongly in an emotional address and pushed them to put disappointment behind them before the bronze-medal match against France in Miami.
BBC Sport also said Tuchel reverted to a back five and made defensive-minded substitutions in the closing stages as Lionel Messi inspired the comeback with assists for Enzo Fernandez and then Lautaro Martinez’s 92nd-minute winner.
The Independent added that Tuchel had extended his contract through to 2028, while the Football Association had already publicly backed him despite the tactical debate.
Tuchel under fire
Sky Sports News said some England players were “bemused” by Tuchel’s defensive substitutions, believing the changes hindered rather than enhanced their chances of winning.
Sky Sports News described how, seventeen minutes after Gordon’s lead, Tuchel brought on Ezri Konsa for the goalscorer and switched to a back-five with more than half an hour to play, and then substituted Declan Rice for Nico O'Reilly ten minutes later.
In the same period, Sky Sports News said England had just 12 per cent possession between Gordon’s goal and Martinez’s stoppage-time winner, and it reported that those with reservations felt England had “no out-ball” and no one to hold the ball up in attacking areas.
The Guardian quoted Tuchel’s post-match analysis of Argentina’s late comebacks, including his line that “That is in the DNA and it demands a lot of self-confidence – natural self‑confidence to always want the ball.”
The Guardian also cited Emiliano Martínez’s view that “Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward anyway. You can’t change the gameplan.”
What’s next for England
With England set to play France in the third-place play-off in Miami, BBC Sport said Tuchel’s message to the squad included that victory would be their best men’s World Cup finish since winning in 1966.
The Independent said the tournament is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2030, and it also noted that FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted the next men’s World Cup could feature 64 teams.
AOL.co.uk quoted Tuchel saying, “We will prepare for the best version of Argentina,” and it added that he expected and demanded “the best of ourselves” as England pushed for the best version of their own performance.
The New York Times framed the immediate stakes around England’s absence from the final at MetLife Stadium, saying they would be in Miami facing France in the third-place play-off after their semi-final exit to Argentina.
In the aftermath, The New York Times said Tuchel was appointed to win the 2026 World Cup and that there were clauses in his contract that could have ended the partnership if England exited before the quarter-finals, while it reported he remained safe in his job.
