FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

He did have a perfect corner against Croatia. For Kanes header. But that was it. He went off after 72 minutes in that game, gassed. And that was pretty much Rices tournament. Lasted one game. Ok, he did have a second wind against Mexico, with the run leading to Bellinghams first goal.

I mean, someone should ask some tough questions. A player who has played 55 English club games in the WC season. Is that a player you take to the world cup? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. But at least it should be considered when you select the squad.

But it won't because even if England collapsed after 70 minutes against Argentina. It will not be connected to fatigue. But rather something called England DNA. That we are born to lose, or whatveer, so even the worlds best manager can't succeed. And what Tuchel achieved is the best possible result.

 

Oh dear lord, what next, Donny putting his name in the hat to become the next England manager

 

Even Englands travelling can be questioned. Is flying back to Kansas after every game the optimal strategy? Maybe if they could do it by just clicking their heels

And yes, I know in the group stage, they have to return to base camp after every game due to FIFA rules. But seems in the knock outs, they could have just moved from location to location.

 

LOL. He can't be worse than Tuchel. Can he? At least the refs should be generous

 

Like I said, with the changes he made England went too negative and surrendered without a fight.

But of course if he'd waited a bit longer and brought on Rashford/Saka/Watkins instead of moving to a back five , we may have possibly held out for extra time or lost anyway. Obviously we will never know for certain. But history has repeatedly shown what happens to England in these scenarios, long before Tuchel was manager. The Croatia 2018 game was giving me deja vu of Wednesday.

However in spite of our history. After a capitulation like that, Tuchels position is untenable IMO. He's demonstrated that he doesn't have any solutions to the problems which we specifically hired him to help solve and there's not one good reason for him to stay.

Even the football's been shit since day one. We've hired a foreign coach and paid him millions, just to teach us how to play an archaic, direct, 442, then park the bus when things get adverse.

 

We appreciate @BellinghamJude and a few of the guys from @England for stopping in for some Joe’s last night. Best of luck this weekend! #worldcup2026 #england #kcbbq pic.twitter.com/FLWVcl4PVR

— Joe's Kansas City (@joeskc) July 17, 2026

 

He has lived it he has seen it he was right and thats exactly what happened. Norway was a warning Argentina was where the chickens came home to roost. Tuchel made it worse but for the FA/media/fans/players to bury their heads in the sand and pretend he solely created a unique situation would be a big mistake. Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over etc.

It's not about possession being better than counter attack full stop but when you are fatigued if you can make the ball do the work you have a huge advantage. You can only run so much. It's a fools errand. Spain hardly ever has to physically defend and they have the best defence.

 

Thats fair but for me the final stats tell the basic story. Total passes possession big chances created even Norways defensive stats were better in the 90m because their midfield is more balanced and could protect a backline with less impressive CBs.

James playing in the midfield only furthers the point they went from three number 8s to two 8s with a 10/winger to a RB with two 8s. That is not a balanced midfield that can control games on either side of the pitch. I am not blaming the individual quality of the players.

Jude played 111m and had 34 passes with 3 passes in the final third while Odegard had 80 and 15 in the final third that is fine if Jude is your one runner number 8 but the other two would then need to seriously pick up the slack. Of course a huge issue is the selections and that is on Tuchel but everyone and their mother wanted Rice Belling Anderson including me but it does not work at the highest level. Norways lesser midfielders worked better thats all I am saying. We all know they are not as good individually.

 

With all due respect

Can you shut up ? You aren't an England fan.

We all know what happened. We don't need you writing paragraphs telling us

It's patronising, rude and condescending

 

With Rice, Bellingham and Anderson on the pitch in the first half England had 68% possession against Norway, though few chances were created either side. And that was with a clearly unfit Declan Rice.

The same midfield did also get England into a position where they were winning 1-0 against Argentina, and at that point of the game had been around equal with Argentina in possession, in a even game of few chances. Again, baring in mind Rice again clearly not properly fit.

I don't really see the evidence it "doesn't work" at the highest level. The problem is not having anyone to back them up when changes are needed, or indeed Rice being forced into playing games unfit because there is no back up to him. There isn't a single midfield in the tournament who have had more asked of them by their manager. Anderson has had a phenomenal tournament when you consider the workload put on him with Rice injured.

If there is an issue with the midfield its that against low block sides you don't really need Rice much.

 

Two points to make:

1) The fact that DONALD FUCKING TRUMP could see the problems with England’s tactical shift should be a gigantic nail in the coffin.

2) Look at that absolute spanner laughing with him like a court jester. Toe-curling. pic.twitter.com/NyZr16yc37

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 18, 2026

Infantino is just absolutely cringe! Someone from his office should sit him down and make him watch himself and say look how bloody slimy you are! He genuinely makes my skin crawl more than Blatter ever did and that’s saying something!

 

People like this can't wait to twist the knife when England fail

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/9Z0XaMUFgZ0?is=7XSifeV0YWSk40tf

He still has no regrets about the decisions he made! He’s either really stubborn or just doesn’t read the room well. He’s virtually the only person in football who thinks what he did made sense. This has to be big red flags all over the place.

 

Thomas Tuchel has insisted any downturn in public opinion towards him would not change his desire to manage England at Euro 2028. From Miami: https://t.co/F7ohNjQuQN

— James Olley (@JamesOlley) July 18, 2026

He also says he doesn’t care if he becomes unpopular.

Next Two years is going to be a bumpy ride.

Thomas Tuchel: “France, Spain and Argentina expect to win [the World Cup]. We are not there yet. There is still a gap to close - this is what we will try to do from tomorrow.”

— Bobby Manzi (@BobbyManzi) July 18, 2026

John Stones says he doesn't plan to stop representing England "anytime soon".

— Bobby Manzi (@BobbyManzi) July 18, 2026

 

Souness sticking the knife in. Can't stand him

 

Thomas Tuchel has privately rejected accusations that he encouraged his England team to try to hang on against Argentina in their World Cup semi-final defeat - The Telegraph

One of the leading physiologists in sport believes England's players went into their game against Argentina burdened by severe fatigue - The Times

 

He almost has to say that, whilst he's still officially the head coach.

Managers rarely come out and publicly say they're 'thinking about resigning, because the scrutiny from the fans is getting too much'. It's usually the same rhetoric from a FA or board.

They often deny there's any issue and then if they do eventually step down if their position becomes untenable. It will all come out in the wash (later on).

 

I’m not sure. Tuchel is very stubborn. I think he could be booed off the pitch at Wembley and not even consider resigning

 

If he had taken 6 or 7 of those players he left at home the fatigue levels would have dropped significantly

 

He’s always had an issue with Rice and his conservative ball playing ability but I do find the criticism quite over the top considering that both Anderson and Rice have been essentially run into the ground all tournament. I think Anderson has actually been excellent considering he’s had to basically carry Rice because he’s hardly been able to run. I also don’t think he’s watched Anderson enough if he doesn’t think he has ball playing ability.

 

He's just a total nob

 

Rice isn't renowned for his expansive passing. He's a box to box midfielder. What does sourpuss expect from him. As for Anderson he's getting all sorts of undeserved criticism but he's been one of our more reliable performers. If we were taking a ball playing midfielder we should have taken Wharton or Scott

 

Years ago I may have agreed with you . But in this current day and age , well , I think he is coming from an earnest position. I understand what you're saying , but I think whatever jokes were once made of England , are now just old and tired. This is not a funny situation anymore whether England supporter , casual observer or not. To restore balance in the international football arena England must succeed once more. I believe this is the position where most supporters of international football are at now with of course the exception of some few. Last few tournaments I can honestly say this is my own position that I was hoping for England to succeed. England winning trophies again at the international level is just good for the whole sport in general.

Cheers.

 

Every interview from him is worse.

Ok, but this certainly isn't what you said when he came in, and a central part of his criticism of Southgate was that we didn't believe we could win. Suddenly we never should have and we need to focus on closing a gap first?

Happy to always blame the team and players, happy to blame English DNA, happy to single out individuals that have displeased him. But he has the right not to engage with any blame directed at him.

Even Andorra will leave a striker up to chase clearances and at least do something to try and avoid the ball immediately coming back into your defensive third. How can a professional manager seriously claim having literally every single player inside your defensive third is how you should defend a block. How did he expect us to ever push up or even pass the ball when there wasn't a single player to aim at? Even to the extent Kane was doing what he wanted he was barely pressing anyway at that point of the game.

 

Spot on. This is exactly why we need players who can keep hold of the ball to at least bring on, to protect a lead, even if they don't start the game. Everyone with even an ounce of tournament understanding can see this. Evidently not Tuchel though. I'm not convinced he will learn that lesson though and will continue to pad the squad out with 'vibes' characters.