‘Tuchel got it wrong’: England suffer more World Cup agony as Argentina come from behind to reach final

The sixty years of hurt goes on. And the pain has never felt worse.

Thomas Tuchel got it wrong. He invited the pressure on. It was unsustainable. Sure enough, England cracked.

It was pure torture because the final was there for England. It was within their grasp and they let it slip away.

This was their chance. This was their moment. And yet ultimately, it was Argentina who showed more courage and a stronger mentality than England could muster.

With just five minutes left, England were heading to the World Cup final and a date with destiny in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday. Anthony Gordon put them ahead, got us all very excited and dreaming of the first final since England won it in 1966.

Now, finally, with Thomas Tuchel in charge they might get one of their chances over their line – and it might finally be their time. But England cracked. After a World Cup of heroes and adventures, England lost their bottle. They tried to barricade the penalty box and keep Argentina at bay.

On came Dan Burn and Co to keep Argentina at bay – and yet this time Lionel Messi’s Argentina refused to give up. Messi v Burn. It was not a fair fight.

You can show courage – and England had plenty of it – but you also need tactical nous and England boss Tuchel’s men got it wrong.

They sat deep, invited pressure on to them and you simply cannot do that against a team who never know when they were beaten.

The late surrender had shades of Gareth Southgate in it as Enzo Fernandez levelled with a screamer and then England had no answer – or attacking players left on the pitch.

Messi provided the pass for Fernandez and then an even better assist with the cross for Lautaro Martinez to head home the heartbreaking winner in the 92nd minute.

England’s players threw the kitchen sink to save their World Cup campaign but it was too little, too late. They were in charge when Gordon scored – so why change it?

Argentina have come back from the dead too many times in this tournament alone for any team to let them come on to you. It was a shocking move and you have to look at Tuchel for that because he threw on defenders.

After the final whistle, England’s players lined up in front of their fans but no-one was going to sing Wonderwall this time.

Harry Kane went past Wayne Rooney’s record to become England’s most capped outfield player with 121 but this was a night of heartbreak and frustration for him.

Kane was quiet, Jude Bellingham was up for it but even he could not work magic or score this time.

There were heroes, of course. Djed Spence had the game of his life with tackles and blocks. Jordan Pickford made heroic saves after England began to sat deep.

But this feels like an opportunity wasted and, while England enjoyed the ride in 2018 and suffered tears in Turin in 1990 in their last two World Cup semi finals, they will look back on this one with regret.

It was there. There from the moment that Gordon gave them the lead. Declan Rice’s free kick sent Morgan Rogers down the right, his low cross was brilliant and Gordon nipped in to score.

England were ahead after 55 minutes. It felt like it was coming home at last. Argentina hit the post, Nico Gonzalez and Alexis Mac Allister were denied by Pickford.

But then Fernandez whipped a shot from the edge of the box which flew into the far corner. He never seems to do that for Chelsea.

Argentina were up and England were down. This game was only going one way. Messi’s cross was on a plate and Martinez headed in. The Argentinian celebrations were torture.

It has been a fun ride. There has been joy and great moments. Bellingham has been fabulous. But, ultimately, England head for the worst game in football: the third place play-off.

Tuchel sadly has no-one else this time to blame but himself. The manager took the team to within touching distance – and then blew it.

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