What now for Tuchel and England?

In this episode of The Athletic podcast, the hosts reflect on England's disappointing exit from the World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Argentina. The conversation opens with a sense of collective dismay as the panel, including Adam Crafton and Ruben Pinder, describe the gut-wrenching nature of the loss, emphasizing it as self-inflicted due to tactical errors by manager Thomas Tuchel.

They analyze England's strategy, particularly their retreat after taking the lead and the questionable substitutions that seemed to diminish their attacking threat. Correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke, who attended the match, shares insights on how England's decision to adopt a defensive approach against a formidable opponent like Argentina ultimately backfired, allowing players like Lionel Messi to exploit gaps in defense. The panel discusses the growing dissatisfaction among fans regarding Tuchel's tactics and their impact on his standing with the public and his relationship with the players.

As the conversation unfolds, they compare Tuchel's performance with that of previous England managers, stressing the continuity of England's approach to high-stakes matches. In the latter half, they touch upon the reactions from England fans and debates about the future direction of the national team, including Harry Kane’s role moving forward. Finally, they pivot to insights on Argentina’s playstyle, lauding their resilience and teamwork, particularly highlighting how they adapted their strategy to overcome adversity during the match.