Other Games - 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Edition (+ warm-up matches): Villa-watch

[paul_e]

England were the better side, scored, went to defensive shit and deserved to lose. Same as against Croatia and Italy under Southgate. The whole point of Tuchel was to have a manager that didn't do that in the big games. It's one thing to lose because your opponents were simply better on the day, it's another to just tactically throw it away.

Yep, this doesn't prove people were wrong to be annoyed with Southgate, it just proves that finding someone braver isn't easy.

[Dogtanian]

I got caught up in his Germanity. Aber er ist nicht zu klug. 

[Clampy]

I wasn't impressed with Tuchel all tournament.

I thought he'd done ok really up until his defensive moment of madness last night.

[LeeB]

England were the better side, scored, went to defensive shit and deserved to lose. Same as against Croatia and Italy under Southgate. The whole point of Tuchel was to have a manager that didn't do that in the big games. It's one thing to lose because your opponents were simply better on the day, it's another to just tactically throw it away.

I wouldnt say we were the better side, it was niggly for an hour, we scored, and then went deeper than than the Titanic with similar results.

[Dave]

I wasn't impressed with Tuchel all tournament.

I thought he'd done ok really up until his defensive moment of madness last night.

Exactly like his predecessor.

Cruise through qualification. Get through the group with a minimum of fuss. Rise up a bit and do what is necessary in the early knock-out rounds. Collapse in a quivering heap of English footballness as soon as the expectation of taking the last step is there.

[trinityoap]

Once gain a manager who is too frightened of losing to have the courage to win.

[Somniloquism]

I don't think England deliberately went defensive after scoring, just Argentina changed it and started slamming quality balls into the box and Messi dropped from striker to play maker instead. All that forced the play back but we still managed to get close to their box a few times but the wrong option was taken. Then the hydration break happened and Tuchel fucked it with his changes as an additional outball was needed.

[UK Redsox]

Whilst accepting that the introduction of a defensive (unnamed in this post because it wasn't his fault....but we know he'll get the blame) sub on 72 mins was the key event, it had gone downhill from the moment they scored.

From ESPN

From the 55th minute when Gordon scored through to Argentina's winner in the 92nd minute, England had just 12% possession.
They allowed Argentina 37 minutes with 88% possession -- a team who at that point had four forwards on the pitch, stretching England's defense
and offering midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Fernández time on the edge of the box.

However, the problem did become more noticeable after 72



Morgs only touched the ball once between the formation change and the winner. James and Spence touched the ball just once in the Argentina half between them after the 72nd minute

James (and his replacement's) average position after 72, was behind Pickford 

[Dave]

I don't think England deliberately went defensive after scoring, just Argentina changed it and started slamming quality balls into the box and Messi dropped from striker to play maker instead. All that forced the play back but we still managed to get close to their box a few times but the wrong option was taken. Then the hydration break happened and Tuchel fucked it with his changes as an additional outball was needed.

Yeah, the ten minutes after the goal was more England - Rogers run and shot and Kane shooting at Emi.

[Somniloquism]

Sky correct on that second graphic? Pickfords average position was on the edge of the 18 yard box and James furthest back? No wonder we conceded two goals.

[UK Redsox]

If Tuchel did want to go more defensive, the move should have been to try to man-mark Messi out of the game, not change to a formation that gave him and Enzo way more space.

Spence could have done the job for a while, then maybe bring on Mainoo

[AV82EC]

As ever in these post England World Cup/Euro defeats its best being honest and two things spring to mind.

We don’t have world class midfielders who can control and affect the game the way other countries seem to be able to produce. In view of that we can progress far in tournaments but will never take the final step as we seem unable to look after the ball.

We lionise certain players to the detriment of the team, yes Kane and Bellingham are good players but if we need to do something different they’re not indispensable, I’d argue Bellingham has quite a way to go to be considered World Class. Kanes “efforts” and impacts over the last 2 games were woeful.

All of that said the Manager/coaching meltdown that occurred last night after we scored (congrats to whoever described it as a reverse Lambert) was staggering in its ineptitude.

[Dave]

I’d argue Bellingham has quite a way to go to be considered World Class.

He'd be in the first eleven for every single club and country in the world. In the position that he plays, if he isn't then who is?

[brontebilly]

Assuming Unai was watching I wonder what he was thinking and would have done at 1-0. Going defensive, leaving Kane on so no out ball was criminal. It was awful in game management from Tuchel, but looking back, England have been poor in most games and the original squad also seemed wrong. A great opportunity thrown away.

Emery wouldn't have surrendered the midfield anyway. Kane would have been hooked too.

[AV82EC]

I’d argue Bellingham has quite a way to go to be considered World Class.

He'd be in the first eleven for every single club and country in the world. In the position that he plays, if he isn't then who is?

Would he? He struggled to get in Reals team at times this season.