Argentina’s players were left astonished by England’s reaction after taking the lead in the World Cup semi-final, particularly by manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to adopt a defensive approach with his substitutions. The South Americans had specifically prepared for England to introduce more pace in the second half, only to find the opposite occurring.

According to reports, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had expected one or both of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke to be brought on. Scaloni and his coaching team were aware that Argentina’s biggest weakness tends to appear when matches become stretched, exposing them to quick runs behind their defensive line.

After Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute, several Argentina players admitted they feared this scenario unfolding, but gradually realised that England were retreating deeper instead of pressing forward.

Scaloni and his assistants were still anticipating the arrival of Saka or Madueke by the time of the second hydration break. However, they soon noticed Tuchel preparing to send on defensively-minded players, effectively removing England’s outlet options and counter-attacking threat.

This prompted Scaloni to unleash a more aggressive strategy, including bringing on Lautaro Martinez for left-back Nicolas Tagliafico — a move that paid off when Martinez netted the match-winning goal in stoppage time.

England introduced Ezri Konsa for Gordon in the 72nd minute as Tuchel switched to a five-man defence. Later, in the 82nd minute, Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly replaced Reece James and Declan Rice. It wasn’t until the 90th minute, after Enzo Fernandez equalised from long range for Argentina, that England added more attacking intent — bringing on Marcus Rashford for Djed Spence and Ivan Toney for John Stones. During the period between Gordon’s opener and Martinez’s decisive strike, England managed only 12 per cent possession.

Once Scaloni recognised the impact of Tuchel’s first substitution and the growing territorial dominance of Argentina, he decided to abandon his defensive contingency plan. Concluding that a specialised left-back was no longer necessary against English pace, he introduced Martinez for Tagliafico in the 81st minute, moving 62nd-minute substitute Nico Gonzalez into the left-back role.

Argentina’s second goal celebration, led by Martinez, came after England’s defensive posture had invited sustained pressure. The tactical decisions made by England became a major talking point among Argentina’s players in their post-match celebrations, particularly the early shift to a back five and the absence of Saka or Madueke, who had been discussed at half-time as potential threats.

Even within the England camp, some players appeared surprised by the approach. Captain Harry Kane reportedly commented that trying to “hold on” to a 1-0 lead was “not enough at this level.” Central defender Marc Guehi echoed the sentiment, saying, “We should have carried on pushing. It kind of felt like we scored and then the mentality was go back, defend.”

Despite the criticism, the Football Association reportedly does not blame Tuchel’s tactical choices for England’s elimination. The governing body remains confident in the German coach as preparations continue for hosting Euro 2028. Chief executive Mark Bullingham is said to be satisfied with Tuchel’s overall performance.

Within the FA, there is also a belief that Tuchel is working to address deeper cultural issues within the squad. Some insiders suggest that the players instinctively retreated into a defensive mindset, even as the manager reinforced his instructions to maintain control. Tuchel extended his contract in February, securing his position through Euro 2028.