The England football team fell to its nemesis Argentina in last night's World Cup semi-final. The two countries have history dating back to before and after The Falklands War.
[BBC]
Despite going 1-0 up early in the second half courtesy of an excellent goal by Anthony Gordon, the Three Lions were eventually outclassed and outplayed by a superior Pumas team which was relentless in its pursuit of an equaliser and a winner.
Aided and abetted by poor decisions on the part of their head coach Thomas Tuchel, England again fell to their betes-noirs.
[The Guardian]
Tuchel's substitutions did not work. Bringing on defenders in place of attack-minded players like Gordon and Declan Rice unbalanced the shape of the team causing them to surrender most of the possession. Between England's goal and Argentina's second England only had 12% possession. Small wonder that they could not hold out against the Argentine onslaught.
An unmarked Lionel Messi on the right controlled the game in the latter stages. Why did England stop man-marking him?
[The Guardian]
Oh well, the inquest has already begun into whose fault it all was. By the next World Cup Harry Kane will be 36 so may not play - he is no Messi.
And will Tuchel still be in the job? As it stands he has a contract up to and including the Euros in 2028.
© Sporty Sam MMXXVI
Pictures:
BBC, Google Images, The Guardian
Thanks:
BBC, Paul Whitelock
Tags:
Anthony Gordon, Argentina, BBC, Declan Rice, England, Falklands War, Google Images, Harry Kane, Messi, Paul Whitelock, Pumas, Sporty Sam, The Guardian, Thomas Tuchel, Three Lions