Thomas Tuchel: England boss defends strategy against Argentina and blames English football’s ‘DNA’ for World Cup exit | football news

Thomas Tuchel says he is “100 per cent” committed to continuing in his role as England boss at the next European Championship in two years’ time, and has attacked critics who question his tactics, instead saying it is a problem with the “DNA” of English football.

Tuchel was heavily criticized after the semi-final loss in Atlanta, accused of negative tactics that turned the game in Argentina’s favor and turned a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 defeat.

But now, the head coach yelled back that his formation in Atlanta wasn’t wrong; Instead the problem is a weakness in the English football “DNA” which means players struggle to keep possession under pressure.

“My feeling at the moment is that no structure in the world can help us,” said Tuchel.

“Because actually we were too passive and we weren’t physical enough, we didn’t stop runners coming into our box and the deliveries were wrong.

“I haven’t seen the data yet, but I think right after the goal the momentum completely swung and possession dropped dramatically. We couldn’t find any more duels; that’s why we dropped deeper. It was never the plan, but it happened.”

“(We) couldn’t stop the second-line runners, the midfielders, with our gaps, and the deliveries were top-notch. You have to get the ball back; otherwise you can’t break the pressure, and you can’t get the momentum back.

“I think ball possession plays an important role; it’s maybe not in our DNA like it’s in our Spanish DNA or our Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball.”

One of England’s best players in tight space is Kobi Mainu, who has not played a single minute in this tournament. And Tuchel decided to leave arguably England’s most technically gifted footballer, Phil Foden, out of his World Cup squad altogether.

Tuchel is adamant that switching to a back five with more than 30 minutes remaining was not a negative move with England leading by a goal. Ejri Konsa was substituted seventeen minutes after Anthony Gordon’s goal. Tuchel said he should have helped his players deal with the increased threat he was seeing from Argentina.

“We become very passive in our structure and try to help. Not to help the back five, to become more passive, but actually to be more active, to get out quickly to the wingers, not to open gaps in the back four. We encourage everyone to go out and be more active in the structure, but we just struggle.”

England covered more air miles than any other team at the World Cup, covering 14,365 miles in five weeks. Tuchel says that the extreme conditions of the tournament have had an effect on the players as well.

“We struggled physically a little bit, I think, the whole tournament, playing in the heat, playing high, playing down a man, etc. It cost us a lot in the end.”

Still, Tuchel says he has seen enough from the players to believe they can still win a major tournament while he is in charge. He said, his hunger for the job has not decreased.

“One hundred percent, and still enough to improve, still enough to improve and I’m more than happy to do it.

“I still think we can impose ourselves more on the ball, I still think we can still show how good football players we are. I think it’s still in us because I’ve seen it in every camp and also here in training at the World Cup and I still think there’s an extra level that we have to win and we have to go to the next level and then get the big prize.”

Is DNA really the problem?

England’s 2014 DNA philosophy created a blueprint for the development of future national teams from youth level upwards. The five pillars—identity, playing style, player development, coaching and support—were aimed at producing technically gifted, tactically astute, physically resilient and mentally strong players.

The framework promoted possession-based, adaptable football, consistent coaching methods, pride in representing England and multi-disciplinary support through sports science, psychology, analysis and nutrition.

Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett:

“There is a fair comment that when the England players are under pressure, they don’t keep the ball well enough.

“It’s ironic that Tuchel used the phrase ‘England’s DNA’ – the exact phrase England’s chief football officer Dan Ashworth used all those years ago.

“If you look at the FA’s ‘DNA’ – a plan they introduced in 2014 about how England teams will play from junior football to senior teams – they addressed England’s DNA 12 years ago.

“One of two things happened here. Either the DNA program failed completely, I’m not sure it did, or Thomas Tuchel is wrong; neither can be true.”

Why was Mainu not picked and do England have a midfield problem?

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

It’s a familiar departure for England with a familiar problem: England lacks midfield players who can control football matches.

Or at least, they were not willing to choose any Tuchel.

What was the need to take Kobi Mainu to this World Cup? He didn’t get it for a minute.

The 21-year-old – a starter in the Euro 2024 finals, don’t forget – was instrumental in Man Utd’s upturn in form in the second half of the Premier League. Among the regulars in midfield, only Spain and Man City star Rodri had more accurate passes in the opposition half than Mainu during that period.

How could England have done anything with that consistency in the final half-hour against Argentina, when they gave up possession and territory to try to hang on. Against Mexico, even with the warning of being a man down, and against Norway, England couldn’t get up and keep the ball to ease the pressure on their backline.

Elliott Anderson and Declan Rice were understandably first choice for the tournament, but Tuchel turned to Reece James, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rodgers when replacements were needed in the center of the pitch in front of Mainu.

If Mainu isn’t his man, that’s the coach’s call. But unless Tuchel can find a solution to England’s age-old problems in midfield, he will continue to get the same results.
Peter Smith