K O G A L O :
It's easier to say because of how the game ended. But if Tuchel hadn't made the defensive substitutions, and Argentina still equalized or won as they did, we would be saying how Tuchel should have switched to defense mode.
I think the approach was okay, it's the players who didn't execute it well. Argentina became aggressive immediately after they conceded, not after Tuchel's substitutions. That Spence tackle on Simeone happened immidiately after England's goal. Argentina started keeping the ball better and spamming crosses from everywhere, and everyone could see that there was need for more height in England's defense.
If Tuchel continues to attack, they leave spaces behind them and if they concede because of that, we would call him stupid for not being able to defend a lead.
So let me tell you what went wrong. England players couldn't defend properly. For Enzo's equalizer, he is not closed down soon enough. Bellingham is the closest player but he arrives late, after Enzo has taken the shot. That's not on Tuchel. For the second goal, Messi does well to get the ball back into the area, but Lautaro jumps alone, under no pressure. Stones, Konsa, Burn, and Guehi are all in that defense. They're all taller than Lautaro, and none of them marks him.
I even saw Mac Allister win aerial duels against Guehi. Dan Burn, with all his height, never went for any aerial duel during the time he was on the pitch and definitely didn't win any.
In short, I think the approach from Tuchel was the right one in the moment. It's his players who couldn't execute it well.
2026-07-16 09:59:03