AFCON 2025
Wayne Rooney has torn into Thomas Tuchel’s tactics after England’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time collapse against Argentina in the World Cup semifinal in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the second half, but Argentina fought back to score twice in the closing stages and reach a second straight final.
Rooney, speaking on the BBC, criticized Tuchel’s decision to bring on defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, and Nico O’Reilly in the final 20 minutes after England took the lead. He said: “If you’re an attacking player on that pitch and you go 1-0 up and you see the changes which the manager’s making, you’re losing belief, there’s only so many times you can get away with it.”
The former Manchester United striker argued the substitutions sapped England’s momentum at the exact moment they should have pushed for a second goal. “Then you start thinking, oh no we’re going to sit back for this long, how are we going to get through this?” Rooney added.
He went further, describing England’s approach after taking the lead as a “panic” rather than a plan. “It’s a panic, it’s a real panic,” Rooney said. “You can’t go a goal up and then surrender the strength of the ball and surrender any opportunity going to try and get the second goal because that’s what you want to do.”
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart echoed the criticism, drawing comparisons to Gareth Southgate’s past reluctance to chase games from a winning position. Hart said Tuchel’s early changes suggested he “didn’t believe in his team” once Argentina found their rhythm.
Enzo Fernandez leveled the score in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner two minutes into stoppage time, with Lionel Messi assisting both goals. The result extends England’s wait for a first World Cup final since 1966.
Argentina now face Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, chasing back-to-back titles, while Tuchel’s tactical choices are set to face continued scrutiny back home.
