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Years pass, generations change, coaches come and go. But lack of killer instinct bordering on timidity plays on like a refrain that throws English football out of tune. Time and time again. England’s latest capitulation against Argentina, after taking the lead, brought back memories of all those dark nights that have haunted the fans over the years.

In 2018, when “It’s coming home!” was getting louder and louder, the Three Lions let go of a lead against Croatia in the semifinal to lose 1-2 in extra-time. Three years later, against Italy, Gareth Southgate ’s team once again threw away an early lead to lose the Euro final in the tie-breaker.

The 2024 Euro final loss to Spain could be regarded as a take-down by a superior side, but being too pragmatic was seen as one of the reasons behind Southgate’s removal. In came Thomas Tuchel , a German tactician with Champions League winning experience with Premier League club Chelsea. But nothing seems to have changed when it’s the business end of a big tournament.

True, England showed grit to win against Mexico with 10 men for 40 minutes at the Azteca. It was a show of temperament and this time at full strength, Tuchel wanted to implement the same ‘parking the bus tactic’ again on Wednesday after 65 minutes. Just that he forgot it wasn’t Mexico he was playing against.

German legend Thomas Mueller said in a video message how he was completely baffled by the English tactic after the lead. “To invite this Argentina team with so much quality to come to perfect crossing positions and swing in one after the other, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Mueller, who used to make life difficult for Argentina in his playing days, said.
The first warning bell rang right after England had taken the lead. Before the match went into the second half hydration break, at least two clear chances were created as England began allowing Argentina possession.

England loyalists hoped that things would change after the break. The world knew it was a matter of one more goal for England and with their attacking quality, it should happen on the break once Argentina threw everything forward.
But inexplicably, in the 71st minute, Tuchel went for a back-five, taking off Gordon and bringing in defender Ezri Konsa. There was no attacking threat left for England and Declan Rice’s substitution in the 81st minute meant that the 1966 champions were ready to fall deeper and deeper to try and neutralize the Leo Messi crosses. That left the space for Enzo Fernandez outside the box to take aim and unleash that powerful right-footer, with no one to put in that crunching challenge that Rice would normally do.

“I have never seen eight players virtually on the same line … Jude Bellingham was the only one who tried making the block, but it was far too late. At times it felt England were not even trying to defend the penalty box, their only aim was to take care of the six-yard box,” Frank Leboeuf, 1998 French World Cup winning defender, told ESPN.

Once the equalizer was conceded and England started hoping for a tie-breaker, it was a matter of time. “Criticisms will happen when you lose. But I think the tactic that I employed was the best at that point, given the fact that we were struggling to deal with the four-man forward line that Argentina had shifted to,” Tuchel said.

The disappointment in the English media is justifiable and there are calls for Tuchel’s head. The FA apparently wants to put in its weight behind the German and allow him to carry on with his project. But World Cup disappointments have their impact, as we saw with Luis Enrique’s resignation after a terrific Spain’s ouster against Morocco following a loss in tiebreaker in Qatar.

That Tuchel didn’t employ Saka at all on Wednesday and left Cole Palmer and Phil Foden -two definite gamechangers -at home will now be discussed. Industry for flair, is that the way to go? England will need to answer before another golden generation fades off, with nothing to show for silverware.