England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel reckons DNA of English football needs changing after World Cup semifinal exit. England suffered a 1-2 loss against Argentina in the semifinal clash at Atlanta on Wednesday.
Tuchel’s team had taken a 1-0 lead after Anthony Gordon scored in the 55th minute as he was at the right place at the right time. However, Argentina bounced back in style as Enzo Fernandez scored a brilliant goal in the 85th minute whereas Lautaro Martinez scored the match-winning goal from a header in the final minutes of the game after a perfect assist from Messi, to help La Albiceleste qualify for the second consecutive World Cup final.
England have now lost three World Cup semifinals — 1990, 2018 and 2026. Furthermore, the Three Lions have ended as runners-up in the last two editions of the European championships. England’s solitary World Cup title came back in 1966 when they bested West Germany in the summit clash.
Asked whether it is possible to change the English mentality, Tuchel said: “If it happens, then it has to be changed.
“But I’m not sure, I always try to think in football terms, in 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 open up the 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 any more 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.”
England will play France for the third-place playoff.
