Lionel Messi has seen buses reverse into position before. England did not confront the greatest player of all time with anything new when they dropped back with a place in the World Cup final within reach. The negativity was lamentable and it was no surprise when punishment arrived in the form of a clinical Argentina fightback in Atlanta.
This was a tale as old as time. There was a chance for England to push on after Anthony Gordon fired them ahead early in the second half, but they reverted to type. The mentality was passive and they looked scared to win. No one put a foot on the ball and offered control. Harry Kane? Invisible in another game. The midfield? Outplayed, outrun and outclassed by Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández. Thomas Tuchel? Outwitted by Lionel Scaloni, whose substitutions made a difference, and too quick to retreat when there was so long left for England to defend their lead.
This was supposed to be where Tuchel came into his own. The master tactician, the expensive foreign coach, the finisher capable of succeeding where Sir Gareth Southgate failed. It had been a good tournament for Tuchel until this point. His changes had worked in successive knockout wins and for a moment it even seemed his big call here, starting Morgan Rogers on the right, was going to work.
Rogers made the opening goal in the 55th minute, his cross converted by Gordon at the far post. From there, though, England were miserable. Forget about mustering an attack, they barely completed a pass. Incredibly, they seemed to think they could survive with ultra-defence, panicked clearances and scare after scare for more than 30 minutes. Inevitably, they were wrong.
It is a very English trait, that inclination to hold what we have against the best sides. It happened under Sven-Göran Eriksson at Euro 2004, advantages against France and Portugal frittered away, and it was a failing under Southgate, who was criticised for not being proactive enough when England lost big knockout games against Croatia and Italy after scoring early.
The idea was that it would be different under Tuchel. He was key to Chelsea defying the odds against Manchester City in the Champions League final in 2021. The German is a whir of activity on the touchline, always thinking about his next move, always strategising, and it is worth stressing that England’s uneven run to the last four has been powered in part by smart in-game management from Tuchel.
Equally there has been no true identity to England’s play. They have laboured against low blocks and produced horrible spells in every game. Tuchel failed to produce a complete performance and his side handled this situation terribly.
There was an immediate shift after Gordon’s goal, a heroic Djed Spence tackle denying Giuliano Simeone. For a while a robbery was on the cards. Cristian Romero drew a spectacular save from Jordan Pickford. Mac Allister headed against a post. England wilted, offering no intensity. They were defending like a lower-league side in an FA Cup tie, mustering just 12% possession between going 1-0 up and falling 2-1 behind. Kane was back in his box to bash the ball away. Jude Bellingham barely had a sniff. Rogers had one break but his shot was blocked.
For England, who finished with one shot on target, going through to face Spain would have been a travesty. There was no jeopardy for Argentina to endure, no sense they could be caught out if they pushed forward. The only surprise was that it took so long for them to equalise through Fernández, who was under no pressure when he scored from long range.
England were not even defending their box well. Argentina exposed them in the air and Scaloni felt the mood swing. He removed his defensive shield and brought on a winger, Nicolás González replacing Leandro Paredes.
Argentina showed intent. Tuchel showed fear. It felt premature when he switched to the back five that saw England over the line against Mexico and Norway. England were asking for trouble when Gordon, one of their few outlets, made way for Ezri Konsa.
There was exhaustion everywhere. Reece James and Declan Rice, just back from illness, faded. Tuchel kept making defensive changes. Nico O’Reilly joined Rogers and Elliot Anderson in midfield. Suddenly Dan Burn was marking Messi. It was only ending one way.
These were changes that would have led to Southgate and Eriksson being hammered. Tuchel succeeded only in neutralising England’s attacking threat. He could have kept Argentina honest by bringing on the fresh legs of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Eberechi Eze or Noni Madueke. There was a period when both Argentina’s centre-backs were on bookings but they were never exposed.
There will be focus on the midfield choices. Kobbie Mainoo, a nimble technician, was not given a minute. Jordan Henderson has a story to tell about a broken wrist. There were no replacements for Anderson and Rice when they tired. Tuchel made his choices. He never knew why he picked Mainoo over Adam Wharton and Alex Scott.
England deserved their punishment. Bellingham tried to carry the ball forward at 1-1 but was crowded out by four blue shirts. It was never going to extra time. Mac Allister hit the other post. Lautaro Martínez, another attacking substitute, headed in the winner.
England lobbed aimless balls towards Burn and Ivan Toney during added time. Emi Martínez claimed a cross and went down with an apparent injury, but who was he kidding? Argentina’s goalkeeper had barely had a kick since England’s goal. How could he possibly have been cramping up?
