Top News

Amid predictable references to the Falklands and the brilliance of Lionel Messi, jubilant Argentinian media mocked England's tactics after the World Cup semi-final. Thomas Tuchel's approach after Anthony Gordon's opener completely backfired and only served to invite pressure.

England's defence, supposedly bolstered by the introduction of the likes of Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa, eventually caved in as late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez sent Lionel Scaloni's side into Sunday's final against Spain. Media in the South American country toasted one of their team's finest victories, regularly pointing out that the match went beyond football. But they also found time to trash Tuchel's tactics.

Sports daily Ole declared "Argentina humiliated England's defensiveness" and that Tuchel's team "fell into the trap of nervousness." It scathingly added: "The chivalry and fair play they sell as their emblem were left behind in London."

The same publication also hammered Jude Bellingham. Throughout its match report, the phrase, "And Bellingham? Nothing," was repeated four times.

La Nacion suggested Tuchel's substitutions had played directly into Argentina's hands, stating: "Tuchel did his part by making defensive changes, ending up with a 5-4-1 formation (as he had already done in other matches of this World Cup), but that also gave the team the option of long-range shots: it was from one of these (on another short corner taken by Messi) that Enzo Fernández made it 1-1."

The English-language Buenos Aires Times said England will "live to regret sitting back after Gordon's opener" and took aim at Bellingham and Harry Kane, adding: "The key men for Thomas Tuchel's side during this campaign have been Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, yet they failed to deliver on this occasion."

Pagina12 invoked a famous Diego Maradona quote about River Plate following a match against his club, Boca Juniors. The publication wrote: "There's a famous quote from Diego that refers to a certain attitude of the opposing team in the second half and the fall of an article of clothing.

"Well, what a thing to see in England. They've certainly earned their footballing reputation. Tuchel's team sat back excessively and invited an Argentina side that, with so much at stake, would have easily overwhelmed them anyway."

The quote in question goes: "River was River. They played a great first half and in the second half, their underwear fell off."

Meanwhile, the Argentine edition of Infobae pointed out that England had just 12 per cent possession after taking the lead, "with a defensive approach that manager Thomas Tuchel intensified by replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa."

Despite the late implosion, Tuchel, who signed a new contract before the tournament, looks set to stay on and lead the side at Euro 2028, which will be held in the UK. Tuchel said: "I have a contract until the home Euros and I'm looking forward to that even like now it is difficult to look that far ahead."