Thomas Tuchel was appointed to make England a little more continental in clutch moments, to protect us from ourselves and divine a way to win. Instead, we have made him a little more English, expert at hitting reverse with the finish line in sight.
The question of culture arises here to explain how a team in relative control, having taken the lead, could surrender it so absolutely against an opponent not obviously superior.
Is there something inherent in the quality of the English player that leaves them exposed in elite company? If that were the case then how did England have the measure of Argentina in Atlanta for the best part of an hour? So much so the lead they took felt like fair reward.
If is difficult to argue for technical deficiencies in a group fielding two £100m midfielders, one of whom claimed a Premier League winners’ medal and contested the Champions League final, a Ballon d’Or contender and a Real Madrid icon.
Thomas Tuchel speaks with Jude Bellingham during the match (Photo: Getty)
