What Tuchel Said About England’s Tactics After the Big Match

Tuchel Talks to the Newspapers

Recently, a coach named Tuchel spoke to British newspapers. He was asked lots of questions about how the team played and what they were thinking during the game.

What Happened After the Goal?

Tuchel said:

"I haven’t seen the data yet but I think right after the goal, the momentum swings completely in ball possession, chances and it drops dramatically."

In simple words:

• Momentum = the "push" or energy that helps a team do well.
• Ball possession = which team is keeping the ball.
• After the other team scored, England’s energy, ball control, and chances to score dropped a lot.

Why Did England Struggle?

Tuchel explained what went wrong:

• The team became too passive (they waited instead of acting).
• He tried to help by changing the shape:
  • He did not want a "back five" (5 defenders) to be more passive.
  • He wanted them to be active and quick toward the wingers (players on the sides).
  • He didn’t want gaps to open between the "back four" (4 defenders).
• The team was told to step forward and be active, but they found it hard.
• They stopped winning "duels" (1-on-1 battles for the ball).
• Because of that, they moved backward more and more — which was never the plan.

Important Point
Tuchel said: "We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back."
This means: to feel good again in the game, they had to get the ball and keep it.

Why Is Keeping the Ball a Big Deal?

Tuchel said ball possession "plays a crucial role."

He also said:

• It may not be in England’s "DNA" (natural habit) like it is for Spain, Argentina, or Brazil.
• Those teams love to take the ball, control the game, and that is a big problem for England.
• But he still believes the players can show how good they are, like he sees in training.

Why Was Tuchel Hired?

Here is the simple story:

1. Tuchel was chosen because people believed he could finally help England win.
2. The old coach, Gareth Southgate, got to:
   • One World Cup semi-final
   • Two European Championship finals
3. Tuchel was seen as a smart tactician who could turn "nearly men" (almost winners) into real winners.

What Happens Next?

• Some players think Tuchel made a mistake in Atlanta.
• This could make things interesting between players and the coach before the European Championship qualifying.
• Mark Bullingham (the boss of the Football Association) still supports Tuchel.
• But Tuchel has noticed the criticism after losing to Argentina.

The Football Association (FA) will:

1. Review England’s tournament performance after Saturday’s bronze medal match against France.
2. Even though reaching the semi-final is seen as a success, there is a lot to talk about regarding the loss to Argentina.

Summary

Tuchel spoke to newspapers about England’s tactics. After a goal against them, the team lost energy and control, became too passive, and dropped back too much. He says keeping the ball is key, even if it’s not England’s natural style. He was hired to win big trophies, but now faces questions after the Argentina loss. The FA still backs him and will review everything after the France match.

FAQ

1. What does "momentum" mean in football?
It means the energy and advantage a team has during a game. When momentum drops, a team feels weaker and loses control.

2. What is a "back five" or "back four"?
It is how many defenders a team uses. A back four has 4 defenders; a back five has 5. Tuchel didn’t want a passive back five.

3. Why was Tuchel hired as England coach?
Because people thought his smart tactics could turn England from almost-winners into actual trophy winners.

4. Will Tuchel be fired after the loss?
No. The FA chief still fully supports him, but they will review the tournament after the France match.