Lineker brands Tuchel's Messi tactics 'unfathomable' as Argentina end England's World Cup

England’s World Cup campaign ended in a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, as Lionel Messi produced two late assists to overturn Anthony Gordon’s opener and send the defending champions into Sunday’s final against Spain.

Gary Lineker was scathing about Thomas Tuchel’s decision to introduce three defenders as substitutes in the second half, a move that handed Argentina increasing control of the contest. Enzo Fernandez equalised with a strike from 25 yards after Argentina had twice hit the woodwork, before Messi’s pinpoint cross was converted by Lautaro Martinez in stoppage time.

“I found it absolutely unfathomable that, if your tactic is to sit everyone deep, you do that against the greatest player ever to play football,” Lineker said on The Rest Is Football. “He moves to the right, yeah, and you play a back five, and you still don’t go and get tight to him. Just put someone on him. He had so much space. He just whipped ball after ball after ball into the box.”

Lineker also noted Messi’s extraordinary tournament statistics, describing the Argentina captain as cementing his legacy “game after game after game” through leading the competition in both goals and assists.

Micah Richards was equally critical of Tuchel’s in-game management, arguing that England had no attacking outlet after Gordon’s goal and that the substitution pattern left Harry Kane isolated and exhausted.

“Today he got it wrong,” Richards said. “And he has to accept that. They were too deep. As soon as we scored that goal, we had no outlet. Kane was absolutely knackered in the game. It was crying out for Ollie Watkins, someone who could run in behind, get us up the pitch. This one is on the manager.”

Despite the manner of the defeat and the criticism it has attracted, Tuchel is understood to retain the backing of the Football Association. The England manager is contracted through Euro 2028.