Tuchel’s unique selling point when he succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate was the idea he would win matches his predecessor could not. That he would not be gripped by the caution Southgate was criticised for when losing the last two Euros finals to Italy and Spain, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final to Croatia.
The thinking was that Tuchel would drive England over the line, whereas Southgate supposedly retreated from it.
The key men for Thomas Tuchel’s side during this campaign have been Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, yet they failed to deliver on this occasion, and England’s players slumped to the turf at full-time.
They had worked so hard to take the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute – and then sat back and paid the price. The decision by England boss Thomas Tuchel to go defensive backfired spectacularly.
Instead it is Argentina who go through to Sunday’s showpiece against Spain in New York.
“I think the decisions Thomas Tuchel made, we have to be honest, have cost us this tonight.” Wayne Rooney said in an interview.
