BREAKING England out of World Cup as abysmal Thomas Tuchel choice backfires v Argentina
England have crashed out of the 2026 World Cup after Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decision backfired against Argentina in Atlanta
England are out of the 2026 World Cup(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
England’s long wait for a major international success will continue past the 2026 World Cup after Thomas Tuchel’s poor tactical decision backfired against Argentina.
Tuchel’s side, in the knockout rounds, have hunkered down after taking the lead. However, after inviting pressure onto the backline too soon, Argentina turned around the deficit with two late goals.
And, in cruelly familiar fashion, it finished Argentina 2-1 England at a World Cup – just as it did in 1986 in North America, when Diego Maradona inspired one of the Three Lions’ most painful defeats.
England players were left heartbroken(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
The opening exchanges of the clash resembled something more similar to trench warfare than an actual game of football.
The worst of the flash points came when Enzo Fernandez, who was furious after he thought Lionel Messi was fouled, clattered into the back of Elliot Anderson. Fernandez, somehow, avoided a card.
And so too did Giuliano Simeone, who seemed more intent to play the man rather than the ball for large periods of the game. England gave as good as they got – Anderson was first in the book after he scythed down Messi.
Thomas Tuchel’s tactical error led to the loss
However, the Three Lions were, at large, refusing to be drawn into Argentina’s game of anti-football.
It’s a trap that so many teams have fallen into down the years – including England. David Beckham was sent off at the 1998 World Cup when he kicked out Diego Simeone, marking himself as Public Enemy No.1 overnight.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s England seemed to be more assured of themselves in Atlanta. And their ability to keep a cool head paid off when Anthony Gordon turned the ball into the back of the net after a Morgan Rogers cross.
England had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon(Image: Getty Images)
Tuchel made the bold decision to start Rogers, despite the Aston Villa star having only made one previous start in the group-stage win over Panama.
There was room in behind both Argentine full-backs, and Rogers found some in the second-half, whipping in an inch perfect ball which found Gordon at the back post.
Tuchel made his decision after the opener: like Mexico, his side would sit in and, hopefully, soak up every Argentine assault at Jordan Pickford’s goal.
Argentina turned the game on its head(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Three Lions sank deeper and deeper into their own box as Argentina grew in confidence. Rodrigo De Paul rattled the post before Nico Gonzalez’s header just went wide of the mark.
Pickford dived down low to deny Gonzalez before John Stones got a vital head on the ball. It was attack after attack after attack as England were missing an outlet up top, someone, anyone, to hold up the ball.
And when Enzo Fernandez’s strike from the heavens nestled into the back of Pickford’s goal – it was only really one-way traffic. Nine minutes flashed up on the fourth official’s board, and the noise ramped up.
Alexis Mac Allister was the latest to rattle the post. And it was a case of one attack too many for England as Lisandro Martinez headed the ball into the net.
The ghosts of ’66 live on for England.
There will be no chance to get their hands on a trophy as Argentina will now head to New York in a clash with Spain for a shot at football’s ultimate prize.
