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Robin Bairner|<\/span>Chief Editor<\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n
Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Make us your Google favourite<\/span><\/p>\nEngland completed just two passes in more than 18 minutes before buckling to Argentina in Wednesday\u2019s World Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n
Article continues under the video<\/center> <\/p>\nThe scarcely believable statistic should change how the game is framed, particularly around criticism directed towards manager Thomas Tuchel, who has become a punchbag for media and fan criticism in the wake of the defeat.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s World Cup exits always have their villains \u2013 from David Beckham in 1998 to Gareth Southgate in 2022 \u2013 but this time around, the verdict has fallen harshest on the German following a 2-1 loss to Argentina.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s a kick out by David Beckham or David Seaman straying too far from his goal line, England\u2019s World Cup exits inevitably have their villains.<\/p>\n
Following the Three Lions\u2019 2-1 loss against Argentina, the verdict has fallen harshest on manager Tuchel for retreating and adopting a defensive approach when his side had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon.<\/p>\n
England buckled in the closing stages of the game, first via a long-range shot from Enzo Fernandez and secondly from a close-range header from Lautaro Martinez. Both goals were assisted by Lionel Messi, whose influence grew as the game progressed and once again emerged as Argentina\u2019s ace.<\/p>\n
Six minutes (plus stoppages) were all that separated England from a first World Cup final since 1966, with Tuchel becoming the punchbag after the loss.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a role he\u2019s willingly accepted.<\/p>\n
\u201cStraight after our goal, with no substitutions, we just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances. So we tried to help,\u201d he said<\/b>. \u201cBut of course the responsibility is on the coach. And \u2026 if it doesn\u2019t go well, it\u2019s easy to say that it was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\u00a9 IMAGO – Thomas Tuchel: Heavily criticised in the wake of England’s World Cup exit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhy has Tuchel been criticised?<\/h2>\n Tuchel has faced criticism because of the substitutions he made, which have been perceived to have taken the impetus out of England\u2019s attacking game.<\/p>\n
Argentina had historically struggled when stretched during this World Cup and were fortunate to escape with victory against Egypt earlier in the competition when their opponents countered them. England\u2019s goal even arrived from such a situation.<\/p>\n
In taking Gordon off and replacing him with Ezra Konsa, though, the Three Lions lost much of this threat.<\/p>\n
It was a move that handed the initiative to Argentina, inviting them to attack without one of the fastest players in the world<\/b> to think about on the break.<\/p>\n