Thomas Tuchel defends tactics following England's World Cup semi-final defeat

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical approach during the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Saturday's third-place play-off against France in Miami, the manager addressed the intense scrutiny following England's late collapse.

After leading for 85 minutes, England succumbed to two late goals from the reigning world champions. When asked about his tactical decisions in the closing stages, Tuchel was firm. «If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility. I don't regret my decisions. I trusted my instinct and experience to help the team get the result,» he stated.

If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility. Thomas Tuchel

Tuchel acknowledged that the team became «too passive» as they retreated into a deep defensive block, but he insisted this was a reaction to the immense pressure applied by Lionel Messi and his teammates. He also pointed to the physical toll of previous matches, specifically the high-altitude game against Mexico and the heat faced against Norway, as factors that impacted his squad's performance levels.

«This is our scar that we carry now. It is a very painful defeat, and we have to live with this,» Tuchel said. He emphasized that the focus must now shift to the upcoming match against France, which offers the squad a chance to achieve England's best World Cup finish in 60 years.

Addressing the broader picture, the manager admitted that there is still a gap between England and the world's elite, such as Argentina, France, and Spain. «We are not there yet. There is still a gap to close. And this is what we will do. We will not stop hunting, we will not stop challenging,» he concluded.