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Clinton Morrison reflects on England’s World Cup exit at the hands of Argentina, examines Thomas Tuchel’s decisions, and looks ahead to Sunday’s World Cup final clash.

The starting point this week has to be England’s semi-final defeat against Argentina. Leading 1-0, they had firm control of the match, and perhaps if Thomas Tuchel had opted for more attacking substitutions instead of sitting back, the outcome might have been different. When you allow world-class players like Lionel Messi time and space, you inevitably pay the price.

Up until around the 60-minute mark, England managed the game well, but Tuchel’s tactical shift after that raised questions. Those defensive substitutions were similar to what he’d done against Mexico and Norway, but against a side like Argentina—featuring the best player in the world—it was always a risk.

If Gareth Southgate had made those same changes, the entire nation would have criticised him heavily. So it’s fair to expect Tuchel to face significant scrutiny in the coming months. Is he still a top manager? Absolutely—his record speaks for itself.

However, once he reflects on the match, Tuchel must admit that his late decisions were misguided. When you’re leading 1-0 and fail to score a second, you can’t sit back and invite pressure. Argentina possess players capable of breaking down even the tightest defences.

It’s understandable to defend deep against a weaker side, but Argentina’s quality means sitting back is asking for trouble. When you’re defending on your six-yard line, conceding becomes almost inevitable. Overloading the defence can backfire—as seen when Lautaro Martínez scored with a free header in the box despite several defenders in the area. It was bewildering to watch.

The turning point of the game came from the substitutions. Argentina’s changes had an immediate and decisive impact on the match.

Reece James had to be withdrawn due to hamstring issues and cramp, which made sense. Switching to a back five was understandable, but the decision to take off Declan Rice for Nico O’Reilly was puzzling. O’Reilly can play in midfield, but bringing on someone like Kobbie Mainoo, who drives play forward, might have been more effective. He hadn’t featured in the tournament so far. Later in the game, someone like Ollie Watkins could have been useful to stretch the play and provide an outlet up front.

Argentina’s never-say-die attitude once again shone through, which is why they are world champions. It’s heartbreaking for the England players and fans—they were so close to reaching the final and facing a strong Spain team. Yet, when you look at the entire match, the better side ultimately won.

Despite the disappointment, I still believe Tuchel is the right person to lead England forward. Many are calling for his dismissal, but who would replace him? The name most fans mention is Pep Guardiola.

If Pep becomes available, you take that opportunity without hesitation—he’s a truly exceptional manager. But I don’t see The FA making a change right now. Zinedine Zidane’s name has been mentioned, though he seems set to take over France with Didier Deschamps stepping down. Jurgen Klopp has been linked to the Germany job. That leaves Guardiola as the standout option should England decide to go in a new direction.

In the short term, England must now prepare for the third-place play-off—a fixture few players or fans care about. Honestly, I’ve never understood why that game still exists; it feels meaningless. Many players would prefer to rest, recover, and prepare for the upcoming season.

If I were Tuchel, I’d give opportunities to those who haven’t had much game time. Players like Kobbie Mainoo and Ollie Watkins deserve a chance, while Bukayo Saka could benefit from more minutes. Declan Rice, who has been nursing an injury, should be rested. Although Tuchel is unlikely to rotate the entire squad, giving others the experience of playing in a World Cup match would be valuable. Of course, you still want to win against France, but some rotation makes sense.

Attention will soon turn to the World Cup final. Spain’s midfield looks stronger than Argentina’s, even though Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister have had impressive tournaments. Spain should control possession. Messi will drift in from the right flank, but Marc Cucurella won’t allow him much time or space to deliver crosses. Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez enjoy physical duels, while the battle between Lamine Yamal and Nicolás Tagliafico should be fascinating.

Spain are my favourites, but I have a feeling Argentina might produce something magical. Hopefully, the final will match the excitement of the France-Argentina showdown four years ago—an end-to-end thriller that fans will never forget.