Argentina stunned by Tuchel's defensive shift as England surrendered World Cup semi-final lead

Argentina’s players and coaching staff were privately stunned by Thomas Tuchel’s decision to abandon attacking options and retreat defensively after England took the lead in their World Cup semi-final, with the tactical shift ultimately handing Lionel Scaloni the freedom to go for broke and win the match in stoppage time.

Scaloni had specifically prepared his side for the introduction of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke — or both — after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, given Argentina’s known vulnerability to pace in behind when a game is stretched. Instead, Tuchel moved in the opposite direction. Ezri Konsa replaced Gordon in the 72nd minute as England switched to a back five, before Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly came on for Reece James and Declan Rice in the 82nd minute.

Argentina players remarked afterwards that they had feared the pace scenario immediately after Gordon’s goal, only to gradually realise England were sitting deeper and deeper. By the second hydration break, Scaloni’s staff were still anticipating a wide forward’s introduction — but when it became clear Tuchel was instead removing England’s counter-attacking outlets, Scaloni abandoned his own defensive contingency.

With no specialist left-back needed against English pace, Scaloni sent on striker Lautaro Martinez for left-back Nicolas Tagliafico on 81 minutes, shifting 62nd-minute substitute Nico Gonzalez across to cover defensively. England had only 12 per cent of possession in the period between Gordon’s opener and Martinez’s stoppage-time winner. Enzo Fernandez had equalised with a long-range strike in the 90th minute before Martinez settled it.

Neither Saka nor Madueke played a single minute — a fact that drew particular surprise among Argentina’s players during their post-match celebrations, given both had been highlighted as threats at half-time. It also appeared to unsettle several England players. Captain Harry Kane acknowledged that trying to “hold on” to a 1-0 lead was “not enough at this level”, a sentiment echoed by centre-back Marc Guehi, who said: “We should have carried on pushing. It kind of felt like…”

Tuchel’s substitutions — and the speed with which he moved to five at the back — were a major topic of discussion inside the Argentina camp, with Scaloni’s side ultimately benefiting from a tactical retreat they had not anticipated and had not needed to plan for.