England 1-2 Argentina: Gary Neville takes issue with Thomas Tuchel's English DNA claims following World Cup elimination
England were beaten 2-1 by Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday; Thomas Tuchel has faced scrutiny for his tactics and substitutions; Tuchel blamed the 'English DNA' for the defeat, but Gary Neville has hit back at those suggestions
Friday 17 July 2026 15:47, UK
Gary Neville has hit back at Thomas Tuchel's suggestions that English football's 'DNA' was to blame for their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The Three Lions boss has come under intense scrutiny for his tactics and substitutions in Atlanta, especially after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead early in the second half.
The Barcelona winger was taken off in the 72nd minute for Ezri Konsa as Tuchel's side continued to drop deeper under Argentine pressure. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez eventually scored twice to send the World Cup holders into Sunday's final against Spain.
Following the criticism, Tuchel suggested it was "not in our [English football] DNA like it is in Spanish DNA or in Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game with the ball".
Sky Sports News understands the FA are not considering Tuchel's position and as of now, he is set to be in charge for Euro 2028 after signing a two-year contract extension before the World Cup.
- Thomas Tuchel vows to stay on as criticism of England's tactics mounts
- How Thomas Tuchel's changes spectacularly backfired
- Harry Kane: Holding on was not enough against Argentina
- England player ratings: Spence shines but big guns fail to deliver
- Report | As it happened | Teams | Stats | Knockout bracket
Despite that, Neville took issue with the German's comments, referencing his decision to leave Kobbie Mainoo on the bench when the team needed a midfielder more composed on the ball and citing his decision to leave others more comfortable in possession out of his squad entirely.
"I have a big problem with that," Neville said on the Stick to Football Podcast.
"He didn't bring Kobbie Mainoo on, who could handle the ball better than most. He didn't bring Bukayo Saka on, who could probably handle the ball better than most. But he also left Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home, technical players. He's left out what would be generational talents.
"I did think that he'll look back and think: 'Did I send the right message to the players after the goal went in?' Putting three defensive players on before he brings on an attacker.
"I'm saying this in a non-explosive manner, he [Tuchel] will regret that. He gave the players a message to hang on, and they were dropping deeper in the box, and he didn't really help them get out with the substitutes he put on."
Neville's comments come within 24 hours of a more balanced approach than some to England's exit, refusing to lay the boot in on Tuchel and pointing to years of similar issues once again playing their part - including when he was a player.
He told Sky Sports News: "A sobering night for England, but it's been a good tournament. Fans will be extremely disappointed but I never had us winning the tournament from the beginning.
"Maybe the optimists among us thought we were going to win but I never felt we were. I thought getting to the semi-final is an incredible achievement.
"The reality of it is some of the same patterns emerged that have happened with England in tournaments gone by over the last 20 to 30 years.
"Tuchel chose to try and win the game in the same way he did with 10 men against Mexico, where we were resolute, resilient, tight, compact and got over the line.
"He tried to do the same thing in seeing the game out, but there was an avalanche of pressure with great crosses and we just got done by quality and the second goal is magnificent from [Lionel] Messi with the quality that he has.
"It's something England teams have been guilty of so often. I don't know how you change it. I went to eight tournaments as a player or coach - five of them we were knocked out on penalties. Many of them ended up sitting back on our own box very deep, not on the front foot. The very opposite of what English football is.
"All I can put it down to - and I've experienced what a lot of those England players did last night - is your legs get heavy, you start to come under pressure, protecting your lead, you think you can get over the line by keeping a clean sheet and keeping the ball out of your net, rather than thinking more positively about how you can counter-attack and score the second goal.
"These are patterns that have emerged time and time again. All of us who have played for England are guilty of it, so the idea of me lumping in on Tuchel just isn't going to happen.
"I was just as big a part of the problem as the lads who played last night that sunk deep into our own box. It's something in our psyche, something we've done that puts pressure on ourselves and we've been knocked out of tournaments so many times in this way. It's not good enough.
"We haven't got enough technical ability to play through the middle third. The players at the other elite countries have the ability to keep the ball under possession in the highest pressure of matches. Then you add that little bit of stardust like Messi, you get over the line. We haven't been able to do that.
"It wasn't the greatest of nights for Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. They had quiet nights by their standards. That second goal could come from a little bit of magic, those difference makers. That's what you're looking for on a night like that."
Should questions be asked over Tuchel's future?
While Sky Sports pundit Neville does not believe Tuchel should leave, he did point out some of the mistakes the German made and could reflect on ahead of the next major tournament in 2028.
Neville added: "I don't think about his future. The pressure for his decision-making is legitimate, he tried to win it in a certain way.
"The majority will disagree with the way he approached that. He will get criticism because he was the big-ticket manager to be the difference maker and gamechanger in the tight moments - the fine lines of international football where it's on penalties, or a substitution or the last five minutes of a World Cup semi-final.
"He was brought in to be the person who was able to deal with that and he hasn't got over the line, so he will come under pressure.
"But I never expected England to win this tournament. I didn't think they were good enough. They've been slightly fortunate that they've played some teams along the way as well that were favourable. So the first time they came up against a team who had elite experience of keeping the ball, they've fallen at that first fence of playing against an elite team.
"Ultimately, I don't believe we keep the ball in the biggest matches in the most important moments. It's been a fault of England for many years.
"And the squad Tuchel picked was a counter-attacking squad. He took out the technical players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Wharton and he didn't play Kobbie Mainoo.
"Not to bring on Mainoo to try and get a grip of the game and not bring on Bukayo Saka or Marcus Rashford for some pace was a mistake. He'll regret that, but he'll know that and reflect on that himself."
Does Neville still stand by Romero comments after 'stupid' claim?
Neville caught the attention of Argentina and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero after Wednesday's game. He called the Sky Sports pundit "stupid" for criticising his centre-back pairing with Lisandro Martinez, with the Sky Sports pundit having called them the "best-worst centre-half pairing in the world".
Romero told DSports: "The only thing that I hope for is that when I retire, I am not that stupid. Hopefully I won't criticise a player or anyone."
It was only fair for the former Manchester United full-back to have his reply, and he told Sky Sports News: "Just to add extra words to what I said: they give goals away. They've conceded six goals in four knockout matches.
"Those two should hug Messi every single day because he's had to pull them out of the mire when they conceded two against Egypt, two against Cape Verde and one against England.
"But I did go onto say they are incredible, and their force of nature of how they go and win the game for their country - they go from the sublime to the ridiculous. They go and win every attacking header in the penalty box and sometimes in the defensive box.
"Romero played in a team last year who nearly got relegated in the Premier League and conceded 65 goals, so I think I know what I'm talking about when I watch a player.
"Romero is very talented, so is Lisandro Martinez, but they do make mistakes, lots of them and they have conceded goals.
"I just see a contradiction in games between them. He's relatively young, Romero, so he's not an experienced defender yet and he's had incredible achievements. He's won a World Cup. But without Lionel Messi last night and the last two tournaments... Argentina didn't win last night because of their centre-backs. They won because of arguably the greatest player of all time."
