Where did it go wrong for England? World Cup pain sparks Tuchel debate

Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener had the nation dreaming of a showdown with Spain on Sunday — but it all went wrong when the Three Lions retreated in a desperate attempt to defend the lead.

Boss Thomas Tuchel was defiant after the final whistle, insisting he had no regrets despite seeing his side throw it away by sitting too deep.

Yet the German appeared to be the only person who believed England had done all they could to beat their bitter rivals.

Read on to discover what some of the biggest names in the game had to say after the heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.

Harry Kane (England skipper and record goalscorer)

Once we went 1-0 up we seemed to just try and hold on, which at this level is just not enough, so I'm gutted.

We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is. To fall short is just gutting.

Michael Owen (capped 89 times by England)

Watch Spain at 1-0. That’s courage. That’s bravery. And then watch England at 1-0. What’s the difference?

We are a better team than Argentina, I’ve no doubt in my mind. But we deserved to get beat in the end. In fact, it could have been 4-1.

Bringing on three defenders at 1-0 up. What message does that send? Until we understand that courage and bravery is controlling possession under pressure and not booting/heading it up the field 40 yards, this will always be the end result.

Iker Casillas (capped by 167 times by Spain)

England score the goal and then sit back. Cowardly approach.

They haven’t left their own box and allowed Argentina to come forward more. The logical outcome happens.

Wayne Rooney (capped 120 times by England)

It was too passive. Top managers counteract what is going on and don't go even deeper. What they do is go more front-footed and try to change the tempo and rhythm of the game. I think he got it wrong.

Against this team, the world champions, you will not get away with it. This has been the biggest test and we have failed it.

Lionel Scaloni (Argentina manager)

We were under [pressure] a bit but the opponent doubted themselves. We smelt blood and went for it. We all felt it.

There was a vacuum inside [England’s] goal. The ball went in after hitting the post twice.

After England scored we showed a lot about our football. It’s more than tactics and playing pretty football.

Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Gary Lineker (capped 80 times by England)

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 [in Lionel Messi].

I think he’s just cementing that game after game after game. Most goals in the World Cup, most assists in the World Cup. And 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.

Joe Hart (capped 75 times by England)

I didn't see any patterns of play that could have kept England the ball. For all of the hard work and effort they have got through in the tournament, they did not have that default, to play it around, to stay calm and to move their centre-backs out of position.

I didn't see anything other than the old school get it up the pitch and see if we can get numbers around it.

Micah Richards (capped 13 times by England)

When England scored that first goal they should have gone for the second. Yes, you respect their quality, but dropping deep allowed Argentina to get into their flow.

For all their effort, they have been outstanding, digging in at the right moments and getting over the line. But you have to look at the manager and his decisions. They made it too easy for Argentina in that second half.

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