England coach Tuchel accepts responsibility after semi-final loss to Argentina
Thomas Tuchel said he bears full responsibility for England's 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final and pledged to work on closing the gap with top teams ahead of the third-place match.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel took responsibility for his side's 2-1 loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final during a pre-match press conference before the third-place game against France in Miami. He said he would not point to anyone else for the defeat, stating, "If you need someone to blame, I take the responsibility. I'm the head coach."
Tuchel acknowledged that England became "too passive" in the final 35 minutes after leading 1-0, and that the team's defensive block forced striker Harry Kane to drop deep. He explained that a back-five formation was adopted to add width and counter Argentina's crossing, but the change did not stop the opposition's momentum.
The German coach also cited the physical toll of earlier matches against Mexico and Norway, noting a drop in performance data that he attributed to the demanding conditions of those games. He described the defeat as a painful setback for himself and the players, but emphasized that England must move on and continue to close the gap with nations such as France, Spain and Argentina.
Tuchel concluded by affirming his commitment to improve the team, saying, "We will not stop chasing, we will not stop hunting, we will not stop challenging," as England prepares for the bronze-medal match.