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England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical approach despite his side’s dramatic 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting he has “no regrets” over the decisions that ultimately ended the Three Lions’ hopes of reaching their first World Cup final in 60 years.
England appeared on course for a famous victory after Anthony Gordon fired them ahead early in the second half at Atlanta Stadium. However, defending champions Argentina produced a remarkable late comeback as Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez struck the winner in stoppage time, with both goals created by Lionel Messi.
The defeat condemned England to another painful exit at the semi-final stage, extending their wait for a first major international trophy since lifting the World Cup in 1966. Argentina, meanwhile, progressed to a second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain.
Tuchel came under scrutiny after introducing more defensive-minded players following England’s opener, a move many observers argued allowed Argentina to dominate possession and build sustained attacking pressure.
Responding to the criticism after the match, the German coach admitted England struggled to maintain control once they had taken the lead but rejected suggestions that his tactical decisions were responsible for the collapse.
“We’re disappointed, but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances and could not turn the ball possession around,” Tuchel said.
He also dismissed criticism surrounding his substitutions, insisting they were intended to respond to Argentina’s increasing attacking threat rather than simply defend a narrow advantage.
“As soon as you lose, you get criticised,” the England manager said, adding that he had “no regrets” over his tactical choices.
Tuchel acknowledged that Argentina’s relentless pressure eventually overwhelmed his side, but maintained that his players remained committed throughout the contest against the reigning world champions.
The result leaves England preparing for the third-place play-off against France, while attention will inevitably turn to questions over whether Tuchel can finally guide the Three Lions to silverware after another agonising near miss on football’s biggest stage.
Despite the disappointment, England’s run to the last four means they have now reached at least the semi-finals in four of their last five major tournaments, underlining their consistency at the highest level even as their long wait for international glory continues.
