Soccer
Thomas Tuchel has suggested England’s entire “DNA” must change after they surrendered territory and possession far too easily in their World Cup defeat to Argentina.
England’s wait to become world champions for a second time will extend to at least 64 years after they suffered a chastening 2-1 semi-final defeat to the holders in Atlanta.
The Three Lions looked final-bound after Anthony Gordon struck in the 55th minute, but the momentum of the game flipped completely after that moment.
Between Gordon’s goal and Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser 30 minutes later, England had a dismal 12% possession share – the lowest figure on record for any team to have led a World Cup match for at least 10 minutes (since 1966).
Tuchel’s side attempted just 38 passes during that time and completed only 26, and the England boss has been roundly criticised for bringing on defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly for Gordon, Declan Rice and Reece James, while Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Ollie Watkins were all unused substitutes.
During that same period, Argentina played 160 passes in the final third, compared to just four for England – with the Albiceleste registering a remarkable field tilt figure of 97.6%.
Tuchel has insisted that he did not encourage his players to sit deep, but he accepts that England may not have the composure to defend a lead by retaining possession.
Asked if England suffered from a mentality problem in the biggest moments, Tuchel told reporters: “If it happens, then it has to be changed.
“But I’m not sure. I always try to think in football terms, about football matters.
“I haven’t seen the data yet, but I think right after the goal, the momentum swings completely in ball possession, chances and it drops dramatically.
“We got too passive within our structure. I tried to help, not to become more passive with a back five but to be more active, to be quicker out to the wingers, not to let them open gaps between the back four.
“We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active within the structure, but we just struggled.
“We couldn’t find any duels, which was why we dropped deeper and deeper, which was never the plan, but it happened.
“We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure, and you cannot get the momentum back.
“I think ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA to take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem.”
Lionel Messi, who assisted Fernandez’s equaliser and Lautaro Martinez’s winner, only completed eight passes in the final third before Gordon’s goal (from 14 attempted, 57% accuracy), with that number jumping to 21 (from 23 attempted, 91% accuracy) afterwards.
England have been eliminated every time they have faced a top-10 ranked nation in the World Cup knockout stages since 1998, going out in that manner on seven occasions.
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