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Pundits turn on England boss Thomas Tuchel as change demanded after World Cup 'catastrophe'

After England's disappointing loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, Thomas Tuchel is receiving criticism left, right and centre

[Thomas Tuchel, Manager of England, speaks to the media in the post match press conference after the team's defeat in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia]

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Thomas Tuchel is receiving his fair share of criticism after England's semi-final exit(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)

Several pundits turned on Thomas Tuchel after England were knocked out of the World Cup semi-final by Argentina. The Three Lions took the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute and led for half an hour before the defending champions took control.

Enzo Fernandez found the top corner from 25 yards, before Lautaro Martinez headed in Lionel Messi's sumptuous cross in the 92nd minute to book a World Cup final meeting with Spain. Tuchel reverted from a back four to a back five after England took the lead and Messi dictated the game, having struggled to get involved in the first hour.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner inspired the South Americans to victory by contributing two assists. After England grew passive and allowed Argentina to dominate possession, several pundits turned on Tuchel as his tactics completely backfired.

Wayne Rooney

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[BBC pundits Mark Chapman, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart & Micah Richards speaking ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina, July 15th ]

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Rooney was not impressed with the way England reacted to going 1-0 up(Image: BBC)

Speaking on the BBC, Wayne Rooney accused Tuchel of panicking on the touchline. The Manchester United legend said: "It's a panic, it's a real panic.

"You can't go a goal up and then surrender, surrender the ball and surrender any opportunity of trying to get the second goal. You want to be on the front foot when the pressure is on Argentina to get back in the game."

He added: "If you're on that pitch, go 1-0 up and then see the changes the manager is makingyou are losing belief. There's only so many times you can get away with it. You start thinking 'We're going to sit back, how are we going to get through this?'"

Alan Shearer

[Alan Shearer ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona at St James' Park on March 10, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.]

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Shearer was also critical(Image: Getty Images)

Speaking after the match, Shearer told the BBC: "I said it on commentary, they had six defenders on the pitch, [he] played his hand and wanted to hang on. Hanging on vs. Norway and Mexico, they perhaps don't have the quality Argentina have in terms of ability on ball and to punish, plus their attitude.

"He played his cards very early in the hope he could hang on and it backfired. Those decisions are the ones which can make such as difference.

"We praised him vs. Mexico and now we're going to go the other way. Could he have put some pace on? They were physically and mentally done once Argentina got that first goal."

Thomas Muller

Former German international Thomas Muller admitted he was left baffled by the decision to sit back and hold onto the lead against Argentina.

The Bayern Munich legend tweeted: "I cannot believe and understand how England approaches this game, especially after they are leading. I cannot understand, to invite the whole Argentina game to hit one cross after another from perfect crossing positions, but no matter."

Gary Lineker

[Gary Lineker during an episode of the Rest is Football podcast]

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Lineker was not impressed(Image: Netflix)

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast on Netflix, Gary Lineker said: This one seems really, really hard to take. We went a goal up, they sat deep. The substitutes he made, made that even deeper.

"It turns to five at the back and youre going, We will play a low block against a team who are good against it. It made zero sense to me. Tactically it was astonishing, to be perfectly honest. It was a negative move.

We all sat there watching the same game saying the same thing. I found it absolutely unfathomable that youve got a tactic, youre playing against the greatest footballer there has ever been. Get tight to him [Messi]. He whipped ball after ball after ball into the box.

Jamie Carragher

[Jamie Carragher on The Overlap podcast.]

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Carragher also felt the approach was too negative(Image: The Overlap // YouTube)

Writing in his column for the Telegraph, Jamie Carragher also said: "England appointed Thomas Tuchel to be a game-changer in the latter stages of the World Cup. Against Argentina, he was. The managers substitutions and formation shift were the biggest factor in the latest demoralising, painful defeat."

He added: "Watching Southgates side, you would scream at the television: 'Do something to stop us from conceding, Gareth.' This time, the cry of the nation was: 'Thomas, your changes have contributed to us looking like we will concede!'"

Carragher also wrote: "Within a matter of seconds, it was clear Tuchel had made the wrong call. England retreated and camped on the edge of their penalty area, inviting trouble."

Joe Hart

[Joe Hart speaking on the BBC]

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Hart believes Tuchel fell into the same traps as Southgate(Image: BBC)

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Sir Gareth Southgate may feel rather strange watching Tuchel's decisions, considering the criticism he often received for being too passive.

The ex-Manchester City goalkeeper said: "Gareth Southgate will be at home watching this game, and he took a lot of criticism when it came to big moments with England when they had the lead and shutting up shop but I dont see anything has changed in the big moment out there.

For Thomas Tuchel, for all the praise we have given him, for him to change it as soon as he did. I think he realised he didnt believe in his team, he didnt believe they could land any more punches on Argentina.

Chris Sutton

[Chris Sutton, who insists January recruitment remains key to Celtic's William Hill Premiership title hopes despite the removal of Wilfried Nancy and the return of Martin O'Neill]

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Sutton accused Tuchel of committing a 'coaching catastrophe(Image: PA)

Sutton said on BBC Five Live: "It was a coaching catastrophe from Thomas Tuchel. The fact that England get themselves in front and then basically hand Argentina the initiative, defending deep, another defender on.

"Its quite a simple game football, you have to get up the pitch. You cant expect to defend for 30 minutes against the quality Argentina have and keep giving the ball back to them, thats what England did and its all on the coach as far as Im concerned.

"He made the changes, he was negative. So the question which Im going to ask is, how can you trust Thomas Tuchel to take this England team forward? I dont care what anybody says, England have had a generous run in this competition, England havent played well in one 90 minutes in the World Cup.

Iker Casillas

[Iker Casillas looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.]

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Casillas tore into Tuchel(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)

World Cup winner and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas believes Tuchel lost his guts in England's chastening loss in Atalanta. He said the ex-Chelsea boss committed hara-kiri, an ancient Japanese suicide ritual where they cut their own abdomen open with a samurai sword.

On X, he wrote "He has committed 'hara-kiri' before adding: "They [England] score the goal and drop back. A cowardly approach. They havent ventured out of their own half and have allowed [Argentina] to push forward more. The inevitable happens."

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