Thomas Tuchel backs tactical decision despite latest England World Cup heartbreak

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] appeared poised to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] fired them into the lead early in the second half in Atlanta.[/p][p]But England then invited wave after wave of late pressure from the defending champions and goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernandez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-lautaro/QHk1CXUh/"]Lautaro Martinez[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=pKVyGJbD"]secured a famous 2-1 victory.[/a][/p][p]Tuchel said his team had become "too passive" after taking the lead at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.[/p][p]"[b]We're disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances,[/b]" Tuchel told the BBC.[/p][p]"[b]We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots,[/b]" the German coach added.[/p][p]"[b]We were close but couldn't keep the level up after we scored.[/b]"[/p][p]Tuchel is likely to face serious scrutiny for his substitutions, notably the decision to bring goalscorer Gordon off for defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konsa-ezri/4CQLQWTa/"]Ezri Konsa[/a] in the 72nd minute.[/p][p]"[b]I did also offensive substitutions in the last games, we just tried to help the players,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]We conceded a chance straight away and we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open.[/b][/p][p]"[b]Straight after our goal, without any substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help.[/b]"[/p][p]Asked later at a press conference whether he believed he got his tactics wrong, former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] coach Tuchel replied: "[b]No, I believe that's just the nature of the game.[/b][/p][p]"[b]As soon as you lose, you get criticized. It's just what it is. No one knows what would have happened if we made different decisions.[/b][/p][p]"[b]So it makes no sense to engage in that and lose my head. I'm responsible for them. I took them, so I take the criticism[/b]."[/p][embed guid="c467426f-48a5-4928-befa-6d7459b60f22" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2077532699481313341?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Asked why England had shied away from a more adventurous approach when leading, Tuchel replied: "Yes, but it doesn't help if you can't get the ball. We couldn't get out.[/p][p]"[b]Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I did not have the feeling that offensive substitutions would help.[/b][/p][p]"[b]We couldn't win any balls, we couldn't keep the ball so I think it was not a structural problem, we changed nothing. But the match changed completely[/b]."[/p][p]Tuchel signed a two-year contract extension in February which lasts through to the 2028 European Championships which England is co-hosting.[/p][p]Asked if he expected to remain England manager after Wednesday's defeat, the German indicated he plans to honour his contract that leads up the the 2028 European Championship.[/p][p]"[b]We keep on going for contract until the home Euros, and I'm looking forward to that. Even like now, it's difficult to look that far ahead,[/b]" he said.[/p]