England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted his side struggled to cope with Argentina’s surge after seeing their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream come to an end in a 2-1 semi-final defeat in Atlanta.
The Three Lions looked on course for a place in the final after taking the lead and holding their advantage for much of the second half, before Argentina struck twice late on to complete a dramatic comeback.
Reflecting on the defeat, Tuchel felt England had earned their lead in what he described as an evenly balanced contest.
“It was a very close match, happy with the way we played it, we took advantage to go 1-0 up, it was totally even at that point and we deserved that,” he stated.
‘They had nothing to lose’
The German coach said the match changed dramatically once Argentina began throwing more players forward in search of an equaliser.
“Unfortunately and strangely enough it marked a complete momentum switch for Argentina, they played with risk and rhythm,” he continued.
Tuchel also acknowledged that his players struggled mentally after Argentina seized the initiative, contrasting England’s cautious approach with the eventual winners’ fearless attitude.
“They had nothing to lose anymore, and we played like we had a lot to lose. We struggled to stay active.”
England’s defeat ends their World Cup campaign at the semi-final stage, while Argentina advance to the final, where they will have the opportunity to defend their world title.