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England greats Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney have launched a fierce attack on Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions’ painful World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. The German coach’s decision to adopt a defensive stance disastrously backfired as late strikes from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez overturned a 1-0 advantage into a 2-1 defeat.

Lineker labels the tactical change ‘astonishing’

Lineker was highly critical of Tuchel’s tactical management after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in Atlanta. The former striker expressed complete disbelief at the decision to replace attacking players with defensive options, effectively inviting Lionel Messi and his teammates to increase the pressure.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker fumed: “We went a goal up, then sat deep. The substitutions he made pushed us even deeper. It turned into five at the back, and you’re thinking, ‘we’re going to play a low block’ against a team that thrives against it. It made zero sense to me.

“Tactically, it was astonishing, to be perfectly honest. It was a very negative move. We were all watching the same game saying the same thing.

“I found it absolutely unfathomable that when you’re facing the greatest footballer ever, you don’t stay tight to him [Messi]. He kept delivering one cross after another into the box.”

Rooney insists Tuchel cost England a place in the final

Wayne Rooney also voiced his frustration, arguing that Tuchel’s lack of attacking intent drained confidence from the players. The Manchester United legend criticised the way England lost their rhythm just when they appeared to have the world champions under pressure.

“The decisions Thomas Tuchel made, let’s be honest, have cost us tonight,” Rooney said. “If you’re an attacking player and you go 1-0 up, then see the substitutions the manager is making, you start losing belief. You can only get away with that so many times.

“Then you start thinking, ‘oh no, we’re going to sit back for this long, how are we going to survive?’ It causes panic, real panic. You can’t go a goal up and then just give up the ball and any chance of scoring a second, because that’s what you need to do.

“If you let players of that quality have the ball near your penalty area, eventually they will score.”

Comparisons drawn with Southgate era

The manner of the defeat invited comparisons with the previous management under Gareth Southgate, with former goalkeeper Joe Hart observing that old habits continue to haunt England. Despite the change in leadership, the tendency to retreat in crucial moments remains a glaring flaw.

Hart said: “I think Gareth Southgate would have watched this game at home, and he took a lot of criticism for England’s tendency to shut up shop when leading in big matches.

“I don’t see what’s changed in those pressure moments. For all the praise Thomas Tuchel has received, to change things as early as he did shows that he didn’t trust his team to continue attacking or land more blows on Argentina.”

Casillas and Muller stunned by England’s lack of bravery

The backlash wasn’t limited to English voices. World Cup winners Thomas Muller and Iker Casillas also expressed their disbelief at England’s cautious approach.

Muller was left puzzled by the tactical setup, saying in a video on his X account: “I can’t believe how England approached this game, especially after taking the lead. I don’t understand how they invited Argentina to send in cross after cross from perfect positions, but anyway…”

Casillas shared similar thoughts, posting on X: “[England] score the goal and then sit back. It’s a cowardly approach. They barely left their own box and allowed [Argentina] to keep coming forward. The logical outcome followed.” He went on to say that Tuchel’s side had committed “harakiri”, referring to the traditional Japanese act of ritual suicide once practiced by samurai.