Lineker jokes Tuchel is a 'German spy' after England's World Cup exit to Argentina

Gary Lineker has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s tactical approach after England’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, joking on the Netflix version of The Rest is Football that the German head coach could be a “spy” working against the national team.

“I just wonder whether Thomas Tuchel’s like a German spy, we’ve been infiltrated,” Lineker said on the show. “I think Germany, because they’re not very good at the moment, they can’t get past the group stage, and I think they’ve sent in someone.” He quickly walked it back, adding: “I’m joking, I’m joking obviously.”

Beyond the quip, Lineker offered a more pointed critique of Tuchel’s game plan, arguing the manager had abandoned the principles he had publicly committed to. “He said after the Croatia game, ‘if we lose, we’ll lose our way by playing aggressive, attacking football’ — he went totally against that, didn’t he?” Lineker said. “I think the most frustrating thing was this team, they had a chance if they’d gone for it, and they just got it so wrong.”

Lineker also raised questions about Tuchel’s long-term future with the national side. “Is he the right man to take us forward? I never ask for anyone to get sacked, I don’t think it’s the thing to do, but it depends on him and how he feels, and also how the FA feels,” he said.

Guest Patrick Vieira, the former Arsenal and France midfielder, pushed back on any suggestion of a managerial change. “You would be mad to sack him or to change the coach,” Vieira told Lineker.

The FA and Thomas Tuchel had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.