16 Jul 2026 16:48:21
There's a time and a place to park the bus and leading one nil with still 40 minutes to go against the World Champions led by the best attacking player on the planet was neither.
Should have carried on doing what we were doing. Keeping possession and staying toe to toe, then breaking play up. As the match went on, Argentina would have had to throw everything forward then we hit them on the break, finish them off, coup de grace.
Instead, Agent Tuchel brings on 6 defenders? What sort of message does that send to Argentina? Come at us and they did. I blame last night's debacle entirely on the manager.

We lost primarily because TT handed the initiative back to the opposition when he had them reeling.


Gave them a chance and they are too good a team (and massively pumped up) not to take it.
Contributing factors included weak reffing (How does a player commit 5 fouls in the first 15 minutes, including a karate chop to the back of Ando's neck, without a booking at least?)
Plus, most of our Premier League players have played many more games than their opponents over the season except the likes of Stones who have hardly played any recently. Rice and Ando have shouldered most of the burden and showed it.
Squad selection? Henderson? Toney? Watkins? No MGW? What’s that all about?
Altitude v Mexico then extra time v Norway took its toll.
But the main reason was TT’s awful, awful tactical brain fade.

1.) 16 Jul 2026
16 Jul 2026 20:08:16
Tuchel will never change, so you've got years of it to watch stokey.
I personally won't bother watching again while he's in charge.

Half the Argentina side play in the Premier too, so that's no excuse.
If you go that defensive, you still need an outlet.


Kane should have gone off, as he has no pace and doesn't fit in with an ultra defensive unit.
It needed Saka or Rashford.
Basically Tommy screwed up, but won't admit it.
France will tear us to bits and hopefully he will go, but he won't.

2.) 16 Jul 2026
16 Jul 2026 20:56:22
The whole country shoulders the disappointment, having been 11 in 66 I remembered the team to this day! So, yes, immortality awaited them in 2026. Once more we had a straightforward run up. Remember the run up to the Croatia semi.

The players did absolutely do what Tt tells them, ie Bellingham playing deep. What Tt didn’t apparently see was Messi moving wide. Who did he organise to mark him - not still Anderson, surely? As both Argentina’s goals then came from Messi’s boot. Tt has no excuses; he had a hydration break midway of the second half. Do they have an autocratic manager that does not allow feedback? ie both Kane, Bellingham, Anderson, all the players and subs must have seen what was going to happen. Did no one watch the Swiss or Egyptian match beforehand, how two sudden breaks by the right back led to two superb goals - although one disallowed.

Spence, the last two matches, has been given his freedom as he was at Forest and terrorised Argentina. He was in the wrong side with Gordon as they don’t gel. Those of us at that certain age we reach have seen it all before since 66. Bonetti, Beckham, Rooney, penalty mishaps. For some reason, managers of England bar Sir Alf have failed. I cannot see us winning the World Cup in the remainder of my life. It’s no use saying we have such and such up and coming player, as that has always been the case. Michael Owen echoed all of our thoughts on the unbelievable Tt's substitutions. Of course, we all now get on with our lives, and yes it is only a game, but made especially galling in the Argentina celebrations.

3.) 16 Jul 2026
16 Jul 2026 21:05:24
The difference from 1966 is one sub.
Having the choice to play five has ruined the game imo.
Sub was there in case of injury.
No, it's "I picked the wrong side"?
I'll shut up shop?
Those options weren't there, and rightly so.

4.) 17 Jul 2026
17 Jul 2026 12:38:08
I like to call it 'Frank Bruno Syndrome'.

It's where you have someone on the ropes but lack the confidence/killer instinct to go finish someone off.

We sat back way too early and got what we deserved in the end. They could have had 3 or 4. We played right into their hands.
Tuchel had actually done alright until this match.