Tuchel rejects curse talk after Argentina deny England a World Cup final place

Thomas Tuchel refused to frame England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to holders Argentina as another chapter in a long curse, insisting the loss came down to a dramatic momentum shift rather than history repeating itself.

Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina responded with two late goals to seal their place in the final and extend England’s wait to reach a World Cup decider beyond 1966 — the only time they have lifted the trophy.

“I love to see these things in a football matter and not through football curses,” Tuchel told reporters. “I don’t believe so much in an English thing and in a curse or whatever, history repeating itself in these moments. It’s just different coaches, different players, different situations, different opponents.”

Tuchel described the match as effectively two separate contests, with Gordon’s goal triggering a complete reversal in the dynamic. “Unfortunately, and strangely enough, it marked then a complete momentum switch in the game,” he said. “Argentina played with more risk, played with more rhythm, played with a feeling maybe that they have nothing to lose anymore, which freed them up and held us back because we obviously played suddenly with a feeling that we have a lot to lose.”

The England manager has already drawn criticism for the tactical changes made after taking the lead, with many observers arguing his side sat too deep and invited Argentine pressure. Tuchel was measured in response. “That’s just the nature of the game. As soon as you lose, you get criticised. No one knows what would have happened if you made different decisions. I’m responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism.”

England came through a demanding knockout route that included victories over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway before falling at the penultimate hurdle. Tuchel acknowledged the achievement while making clear it offered little comfort. “A lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement. No one wants to hear that at the moment. Me neither, because we demand the most of ourselves.”

England now face France in the third-place play-off on Saturday.