By Kris Gonzo | Senior Football Columnist (Follow on X)
England are out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage, having been beaten by Argentina 2-1 in normal time.
Tuchel Sat Back
In what should have been a far better outcome for the Three Lions, following Anthony Gordon’s opener, Thomas Tuchel appeared to do that most West Ham of things, which was to sit back and soak up the pressure.
And if there is one thing us West Ham fans have got to know over recent years, it’s an unambitious tactic which just does not work.
It’s an incredibly frustrating thing to witness time and time again, when defender after defender after defender appears to be introduced as the team you support sits ever deeper and invites pressure upon themselves.
It was, in many respects, an act of tactical suicide from Tuchel, and one which I find completely and utterly unpalatable.
Exactly Why He Was Appointed
One of the main reasons for him being brought in as England boss was for precisely moments like this.
Whilst the German may well have got his initial tactics absolutely spot on, he just appeared to crumble as soon as victory appeared within sight.
There was a late flurry with hardly any time remaining when he brought on Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney, but it was too little, too late.
Because by the time Argentina had scored their second through Lautaro Martínez, England had managed to string five across the back, central defenders in wing-back positions, and even stuck a defender in central midfield for good measure, with no outlet at all.
A Very Familiar Feeling
As I say, for West Ham fans, it was a very, very familiar outcome off the back of a very familiar tactic, and what seems like an absolute dereliction of duty with the country so close to a World Cup final.
My wife asked, “how did it go so wrong?” I started the explanation with “this is what West Ham fans have to put up with nearly every week.”
Clearly there were players that were completely off it Rice, Bellingham almost from the start. He should have substituted after the hydration break with a fresh midfield to maintain momentum after we’d scored but it’s easy in hindsight. I think we looked just totally drained after the previous games imagine what it’s going to be like with another 16 teams added. I love to know what was in the Argies hydration drink
Indeed it was familiar to us, maybe just maybe Nuno will finally understand , sitting back is not the way to go.
But stubborn as he is I very much doubt it.
in total contrast to what Spain did to France when they went 1 up. England had the template set for them a day before and they ignored it
Spot on! ..
This was an inevitable outcome as soon as he changed shape and made the substitutions. Their style of play feeds on itself when they’re allowed to attack wave after wave without a response. They have quality and they had the desire to win and giving them 30 minutes to pound away was a colossal mistake and the price has been paid.
We will not ever win the he world cup until their are west ham players involved it’s written in the stars?
Tuchal must go and get Eddie Howe in
Every England manager since Ramsey has done this it has never worked, he should be sacked we have been poor in every game pretty much bar a couple since he took over.
We were better than them when we pressed them because we are bigger faster and more aggressive yet he sat back he had 3 or 4 warnings before they scored and when he did we had 8 players on the 6 yard line what was that about ?
Every successful team when they have momentum don’t squander it, we should have stayed with a man to man press and caught them on the counter attack with our superior pace.
Why was Morgan Rogers on the wing, he has Madueke and Saka, Roger’s was mostly anonymous and rarely beat the first man with any crosses, Gordon looked dangerous but was inexplicably subbed for Dan Burn when Roger’s or Kane could have been and if he had bought fit right backs he wouldn’t have had to lose Rjce from CM which played into their hands.
Well done Argentina we may have given it to you but you still had to finish us off and you did that with precision.
Well said. Pull Gordon, put on 6’7” Dan “Mr. Header” Burn and then concede one in the air.
I think it’s time to realise England are ok against average teams but every time they play against a quality team they struggle. They are just not at that level.
You can’t win a World Cup without 3 West Ham players in your team. When will we learn? 😊⚒️⚒️
well said.
george graham was a master at it with arsenal.
he had a class defence and great goalkeeper.to do that against the world champions for near 25 minutes sheer madness.we fell into their anare.where is this so called premiere laegue power we keep hearing about? a great moment wasted why make it harder and harder for ourselves?
warning to west ham do this in the championship and we will soon be found out.if you are two nil up and can hold on to the ball and go on the attack then your opponents have a mountain to climb?
He did exactly what Southgate did and if you do not learn from your mistakes then you are doomed to repeat them.We could all see what was going to happen but as fans powerless as it unfolded.We got what we deserved again because we were not brave enough to kill them off and you can only soak up so much before the dam breaks. did not go for it after scoring and it is becoming a regular theme.
Exactly right mate
When Argentina were forced to start playing football they looked a different class and we couldn’t cope with them.
Groundhog Day are the words you’re looking for. When will we EVER learn? Possibly not in my lifetime.