England were on the cusp of reaching their first men’s World Cup final since 1966. They were 1-0 up against reigning world champions Argentina when the clock inside Atlanta Stadium ticked to 84 minutes – and then it all went horribly wrong.
Enzo Fernandez equalised with a thumping strike in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed a 92nd-minute winner – both goals coming from assists by Lionel Messi.
Just like that, England’s World Cup dreams lay in ruins.
They had worked so hard to take the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute – and then sat back and paid the price.
The decision by England manager Thomas Tuchel to go defensive backfired spectacularly.
But should England have gone for the kill when they went 1-0 up?
They did not – and had only 12% of possession from going ahead to conceding the second goal.
Tuchel only sent on forwards Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney deep into stoppage time, while defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly were introduced after England took the lead.
Emiliano Martinez
Even Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez admitted there was a change in momentum after the opening goal as England sat back and looked to defend.
“Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward,” said Martinez.
“You can’t change the gameplan. I think they did it and they sent on extra defenders.”
Tuchel has improved on England’s showing at the 2022 World Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals before bowing out to France.
But this England team is sprinkled with exceptional individual talent like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
Harry Kane
England captain Kane, who will be approaching his 36th birthday at the next World Cup, suggested his side could have done more.
“When we went 1-0 up we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough,” he said.
“[I am] just gutted because we’ve worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, blood, sweat, tears.
“After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave.
“The lads were putting blocks in but, in the end, it just wasn’t enough.”
Tuchel
Asked if he made wrong decisions against Argentina, Tuchel said he had “no regrets” and his changes were a reaction to England becoming “too passive”.
“We decided to go to a back five to close the gaps,” Tuchel said. “Straight after our goal, with no substitutions, we just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances, so we tried to help. The responsibility is on the coach. When it doesn’t go well, it’s easy to say it was wrong.”
