World media reacts as England boss Thomas Tuchel brutally called out and Argentina mocks 'nothing' rival
England's World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak as Thomas Tuchel's side fell to Argentina 2-1 in the semi-final, sparking fierce criticism of the manager's tactical decisions. Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina responded with two goals to secure their place in Sunday's final against Spain in New York.
Enzo Fernandez scored a World Cup classic to level the match, before Lautaro Martinez headed home Messi's cross with his weaker right foot to set up the decisive victory. The defeat has drawn intense scrutiny of Tuchel's approach, with commentators suggesting he "went for a wander when it mattered the most." One analysis noted that "Tuchel the brave went for a wander when it mattered the most. The German who never blinked before the tournament when he left out A-list stars suddenly went on the retreat."
The loss proved particularly difficult for Jude Bellingham, the tournament's top-scoring midfielder with six goals. The 23-year-old could not hide his emotions following the final whistle, weeping on his father Mark's shoulder as he was comforted by his parents and girlfriend Ashlyn Castro. Bellingham was also involved in an angry confrontation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco, who celebrated in front of the England team rather than joining his teammates by the corner flag.
Argentina's victory marked a significant achievement, becoming the first team to overcome a previous world champion in 90 minutes since Italy in 1990. International media highlighted the tactical failings of Tuchel, who had promised a bolder approach after England's previous near-misses under Gareth Southgate, only to adopt a cautious strategy when the final was within reach.
The match attracted a peak audience of 24 million viewers on BBC, the most watched live television event in five years, with an 85 percent share of all television viewing. This marked the second time England has taken the lead twice in a World Cup semi-final and lost, the first being against Croatia in 2018.