In newly released statements to UK media outlets, Tuchel was pressed extensively on his strategic choices and methods.
“I’ve yet to review the statistics, but my sense is that immediately after the goal, the shift in flow tremendously affected our share of possession and opportunities, and it fell away sharply,” he noted.
“We became too hesitant within our setup. I aimed to avoid making things worse by switching to a five-man defense, and instead wanted greater urgency, closing down their wide players faster, and preventing gaps from appearing between our defenders.
“The message was to push forward, to bring more energy to our shape, but we simply found it difficult.
“We stopped winning individual battles entirely, which forced us further and further back. That was never intended, but it unfolded that way.
“We had to regain possession, otherwise you cannot relieve the pressure or reclaim the momentum.”
Tuchel stressed that ball retention “is absolutely key.”
“Perhaps it’s not part of our natural style in the same way it is for Spanish, Argentine, or Brazilian sides — to hog the ball, dictate the tempo, and control the game — and that presents a significant challenge,” he explained.
“I still believe we can demonstrate the quality of footballers we have. I still see that quality within the squad, as is evident on the training ground and during each camp.”
Tuchel was hired with the conviction that he was the person to finally steer England to glory.
Under Gareth Southgate, the team had reached a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals — yet Tuchel’s tactical expertise was regarded as the missing piece to transform England from perennial contenders into champions.
But indications from some players that Tuchel misjudged the approach in Atlanta will create a fascinating tension between the manager and his squad as the European Championship qualifying push approaches.
While Tuchel retains the complete support of Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham, the criticism leveled at the German since the Argentina defeat has certainly been noticed.
As is standard procedure, the FA will assess England’s showing at the tournament upon their return home following the third-place match against France on Saturday.
Although England’s progress to the final four is still considered a success within the FA, it is apparent that there is substantial analysis to be done regarding the factors behind the Argentina loss.
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