Former England captain Wayne Rooney has criticized manager Thomas Tuchel for England's World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina, stating that the team 'crumbled' under pressure. Speaking after the match, Rooney suggested that tactical decisions from the bench contributed to the loss.
England had taken an early lead through Anthony Gordon in Atlanta, but Argentina responded strongly to secure a 2-1 victory. Rooney pointed to Tuchel's substitutions and game management as key factors in the team's collapse.
'It started from the manager,' Rooney said in a post-match interview. 'When you go ahead in a semi-final, you need to manage the game properly. We didn't do that.'
The defeat ends England's hopes of a first World Cup title since 1966, with Argentina advancing to the final. Tuchel has faced increasing scrutiny over his tactics throughout the tournament.
