England 1-2 Argentina: Gary Neville says he won’t ‘give up’ on Thomas Tuchel as Three Lions’ woes set them back | Football News

Gary Neville says he will not “get into” Thomas Tuchel’s criticism after England’s exit from the World Cup in Argentina, adding that he never expected the team to win the tournament.

The Three Lions coach came under heavy scrutiny for his tactics and substitutions in Atlanta, especially after Anthony Gordon gave England a goal early in the second half.

Barcelona’s new winger was subbed off in the 72nd minute for Ezri Konsa as Tuchel’s side continued to sink deeper under pressure from Argentina. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored twice to send the World Cup holders to the final on Sunday against Spain.

Neville, however, took a more moderate view of England’s exit, pointing to similar troubled years and playing their part again – including when he was a player.

He told Sky Sports News: “Tough night in England, but it was a good tournament. The fans will be very disappointed but I never thought we won the tournament in the first place.

“Maybe the optimists among us thought we would win, but I never felt we won. I thought reaching the semi-finals was an amazing achievement.

“The truth is that some of the same things happened with England in previous tournaments 20 to 30 years ago.

“Tuchel chose to try to win the game in the same way he did with 10 men against Mexico, where we were strong, strong, strong, united and crossed the line.

“He tried to do the same when he saw the game was over, but there was pressure due to a big cross and we just won with quality and the second goal was very good. [Lionel] Messi at the level he has.

“It’s something that English teams have been guilty of too often. I don’t know how you change it. I went to eight competitions as a player or coach – five of them we were sent off on penalties. Most of them end up going back into our deep box, not on the front foot. The very opposite of what English football is.

“What I can put down to it – and I saw what a lot of England players did last night – is that your legs get heavy, you start to be under pressure, you defend your lead, you think you can get over the line by keeping a clean sheet and keeping the ball out of your net, rather than thinking about how you can counter attack and score the second goal.

“These are patterns that have come up again and again. All of us who have played in England are guilty of it, so the idea of ​​me joining Tuchel is not going to happen.

“I have also been part of the problem like the guys who played last night who got into our box, it’s something that is in our mind, something that we have done to put pressure on us and we have been kicked out of competitions in this way, it is not enough.

“We don’t have enough technical ability to play in the middle third. Top foreign players have the ability to keep the ball under the pressure of games. Then you add that little light like Messi, he crosses the line. We couldn’t do that.

“It wasn’t a great night for Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. They had a quiet night by their standards. That second goal can come from a little bit of magic, those are the difference makers. That’s what you want on a night like that.”

Should questions be asked about Tuchel’s future?

While Sky Sports Analyst Neville doesn’t believe Tuchel should leave, he pointed out some of the mistakes the German made and could think about ahead of the next major tournament in 2028.

Neville added: “I don’t think about his future. I think the pressure to make decisions is legitimate, he tried to overcome it in some way.

“Many will not agree with the way he did that… He will get criticism because he was a big ticket manager to be the difference and change at a difficult time – the fine lines of international football where penalties are taken, or substitutions or the last five minutes of the semi-final of the World Cup.

“He was brought in to be someone who was able to deal with this and he has not crossed the line, so he will come under pressure.

“But I never expected England to win this tournament. I didn’t think they were good enough. They were lucky to play some teams in their favor. So for the first time they came up against a team that had the best knowledge to keep the ball, they fell at that first hurdle of playing against a top team.

“Finally, I don’t believe we keep the ball in big games at the most important times. It’s been England’s fault for years.

“And the team that Tuchel chose was an attacking team. He took out technical players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton and didn’t play Kobbie Mainoo.

“Not including Mainoo to try to hold the game and not bring Bukayo Saka or Marcus Rashford with some pace was a mistake. I think he will regret that, but he will know that and reflect on that.”

Does Neville stand by Romero’s words after the ‘stupid’ claim?

Neville caught the attention of the Argentine defender and Tottenham Cristian Romero after Wednesday’s game. He called the Sky Sports the ‘stupid’ pundit for criticizing the centre-back pairing with Lisandro Martinez, with the Sky Sports commentator calling them ‘the best centre-half pairing in the world’.

Romero said DSports: “The only thing I hope is that when I retire, I’m not an idiot. I hope I don’t criticize the player or anyone.”

It was fitting that the former Manchester United defender had his answer, and he said Sky Sports News: “To add more words to what I said: they give away goals. They have conceded six goals in four play-off games.

“These two should hug Messi every day because he had to pull them out of the mud when they conceded two in Egypt, two against Cape Verde and one against England.

“But I’ve said they’re amazing, and the strength of how they go and win a game for their country – they go from the top to the ridiculous… they go and win all the attacking headers in the penalty box and sometimes in the defensive box.

“Romero played in a team last year that was almost relegated from the Premier League and scored 65 goals, so I think I know what I’m talking about when I look at the player.

“Romero is very talented, so is Lisandro Martinez, but they make mistakes, there are many and they have conceded goals.

“I can just see the conflict between them. He’s still very young, Romero, so he’s not yet an experienced defender and he’s been incredibly successful. He’s won the World Cup. But without Lionel Messi last night and the last two tournaments… Argentina didn’t win last night because of their defenders. They won because he’s arguably the greatest player of all time.”