Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has slammed Thomas Tuchel for deploying ultra-defensive tactics in England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final.
Owen stated that after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, Tuchel’s substitutions were too passive and unnecessarily invited immense pressure.
Read Also:World Cup 2026: Don’t Sack Tuchel Yet –Ex-England Star Warns
The former England striker insisted that retreating into a low block was the exact opposite of brave, directly handing the game to the reigning world champions.
Owen further pointed out that the team’s inability to retain possession or change the momentum after Argentina’s equalizer resulted in a total collapse.
“Dropping back and putting 11 men on the edge of your own box, and then just heading it wherever or kicking it as far as you can, that’s not brave – it’s the opposite,” he told BBC Sport.
“Football isn’t about getting a bloody nose and everyone saying that’s fantastic, it’s rubbish.
“I can get my local pub team to do that and that’s why we (England) lost out in this World Cup.
Read Also:World Cup 2026: England’s Time Will Come –Sturridge
“Celebrating that win over Mexico in the way we did was wrong. As a player, the minute that happens, you start to think ‘we’ve won.’ Subconsciously, when you go 1-0 up – what are the players going to think?
“Then the manager brings on three defenders. What message does that send to Argentina?”
2 Comments
When someone puts their hand on their head like this, na problem cause am.
And this problem, na Tuchel take his own hand do am.
When you concede control of the midfield to a ball playing side, a side with technically gifted players, you are asking for problem.
Argentina’s midfield is loaded with quality. A solid midfield diamond. And Tuchel surrendered the midfield to them. He even did them a favour by removing his star midfielder Declan Rice.
It was as if he said “oya, see midfield. Make una take am”. And you don’t need to ask a team like Argentina twice.
Once the midfield was lost, the game was lost.
The same thing happened in the 2023 Afcon final, where Peseiro had the “genius” idea to parade a weak midfield against battle hardened CIV midfielders Kessie, Fofana and Seri. He instead chose to park the bus, inviting relentless CIV pressure, and eventually Nigeria cracked. A trophy we should have won was lost that day in the midfield.
Amodu Shaibu used to say “choke the midfield, choke the midfield”. E get why.
For future reference, we must not willingly concede the midfield to any opponent ever again. At the highest level, it’s suicide. I don’t care how compact your defense is. The opponent will keep coming at you, and you will succumb eventually. And in Nigeria’s case, it’s even worse. We that don’t even know how to defend properly or manage games.
Compete hard in the midfield. Never ever concede the midfield.
But @pompey who are we going to choke the midfeild with? Is it with Ndidi and Iwobi combo? Can’t you guys still see even up till now, whenever there is invitation the number of defenders into se is like ratio 3:1 with midfielders. Even up till now.
Nigerian had suddenly been bewitch of lower to non number of genuine mildfield players. Even many of our players will rather claim to be an attacker, winger, supporting striker, defender or just little bit better deffensive mildfielder.
Many of them are not really that technically talented as we thought they are.
We need naturally good talented mildfielders, at this moment we don’t have it. Can iwobi play like Olishe of france? Can Raphael distribute balls. I still don’t see us doing much unless we have a well groomed midfielders.