Tuchel blasts back at Trump’s amazing criticism and DEFENDS England’s negative tactics in Argentina World Cup loss

THOMAS TUCHEL has hit back at stunning criticism from Donald Trump over England’s disastrous World Cup exit. The Three Lions were dumped out of the tournament after a woeful collapse against Argentina, who netted twice in the last seven minutes. Thomas Tuchel has hit back at incredible criticism from Donald Trump over his England tactics Credit: Getty US President slammed Tuchel over his ‘defensive’ use of Harry Kane in their Argentina defeat Credit: AFP Thomas Tuchel has come under fire over his negative tactics during the game after parking the bus in Atlanta. Harry Kane failed to have a touch in the box while goalscorer Anthony Gordon was hooked on 72 minutes in favour of defender Ezri Konsa. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Even US President Trump blasted Tuchel and his “defensive” use of captain Kane in the second half. President Trump had said earlier in the day at an event with Fifa chief Gianni Infantino: “I think (England) perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player. What do I know about soccer? READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP “They took the lead, they took their best player and put him on defence. But what do I know about coaching. That was a little unusual.” When the presidential swipe was put to him, Tuchel hit back: “You use Donald Trump as your witness for the case? “We defended in a deep block. That’s what you do if you defend in a block. “We defend as a ten and as an eleven. And if we are pushed back to a deep block, everyone defends them in a deep block.” Most read in Sport WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS Tuchel defended his park-the-bus tactics despite criticism from England fans and pundits Credit: Reuters In a bruising half an hour in the bowels of the Miami Stadium, Tuchel was grilled about England’s heartbreaking semi-final exit to Argentina. Tuchel took the bullets coming his way but refused to get involved in a “blame-game”. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s third-placed play-off against France, he said: “I take responsibility. If it’s easier, if someone takes the blame, I take the blame. It’s not a problem. “If this is the deal that you sign up for, as I understand it, and you have every right to do so. “But I will not engage in this kind of game. Because, for me, there is no one to blame. “That’s just how it is, and we have to live with this. So it’s our pain, my pain, and the players’ pain. “We feel the most pain of all, and it is our scar that we carry now. “It is a very painful defeat, and we have to live with this defeat first and foremost. “Not the critics, not the experts, not our family members who suffer as well with us and want only the best for us, but it’s us.” Tuchel insisted he took the blame for their ‘painful’ World Cup semi-final exit Credit: Alamy A number of ex-England players have led the criticism against Tuchel for his defensive strategy, with Michael Owen branding it “rubbish” and “like a pub team”, while Nicky Butt labelled the tactics “f***ing insane”. Ex-midfielder Butt is among those who have called for Tuchel to be sacked but the FA are standing by their manager. Tuchel has a contract until after the 2028 Euros and intends to see it through. Asked if he would alter that stance if the court of public opinion completely turned against him, the defiant 52-year-old replied: “I can never change my thinking of whether I’d like to carry on.” Tuchel admitted that playing with ten men against Mexico and in the sweltering Miami humidity against Norway had taken it out of his players physically. England face France with the chance to have their best World Cup finish since 1966, when they won it. But it does not mask the disappointment the country is feeling that they could not go all the way this year under Tuchel, especially after the even-nearer misses under predecessor Gareth Southgate. Former Bayern Munich chief Tuchel said: “After a shock in the beginning, it’s becoming more and more painful every single day. It will be a scar for us. The German’s decision to sub off Anthony Gordon for Ezri Konsa early on has been panned Credit: Getty Tuchel said there was still work to be done for England to close the gap to the top teams Credit: Getty “Unfortunately, not the first one, and very likely not the last one. This is what is in high-level sports. “Nobody wants to be tomorrow in this game. All of these four teams wanted to be in New York, but it’s an official World Cup game. “It’s a chance to have the best results in sixty years for England. It is a big game.” Tuchel believes there is still work to be done to close the gap between England and the elite sides who have won tournaments in recent years. He said: “I think the gap is there because of the titles that Argentina, France and Spain have, what they have built over many years with the coaches and the team. “There is still a slight gap that we have to close. I think the gap shows in the expectations of these countries. Win the World Cup and to be in the final. “We did not, we demanded it from ourselves within camp for sure, and we dreamed about it, and we pushed for it, and we competed for it. “But there was still a gap to close in the way how to play football under pressure, in the way to implement yourself, in the way to be on the very next level.” Comment now