Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has delivered a scathing verdict on England's World Cup semi-final exit, laying bare the mental frailties of his former players. The Dutch legend wasn't having it – Tuchel was not the problem, but rather the team's collective psyche.
Hasselbaink reckons that England's decision to bunker down and defend their 1-0 lead against Argentina with just 20 minutes left on the clock was a 'player-led' choice. And he's spot on – it wasn't Tuchel calling the shots, but rather a team conditioned to think, "We've got this in the bag, let's just hang on for dear life." That lack of ambition cost them dearly.
Of course, Hasselbaink isn't entirely letting Tuchel off the hook – he's right that the manager's decision to switch to a five-at-the-back formation was a tactical masterstroke. But it was also a desperate move born out of necessity rather than strategy. And who knows? Maybe Gareth Southgate would have made the same call. Hasselbaink doesn't think so, though – he reckons his old gaffer would've stuck with four at the back and brought on fresh legs to keep the pressure on Argentina.
Jude Bellingham was another target for Hasselbaink's criticism, who felt that the young midfielder should have taken a leaf out of Lionel Messi's book – just come out and take control of the game in those final 10-15 minutes. But unfortunately for England, Bellingham didn't quite rise to the occasion.
As it stands, Tuchel's position is under threat after that heart-wrenching defeat. And let's be honest, his tactical decisions did seem to hand Argentina a lifeline. It's going to be a long night for the England manager as he tries to justify those choices – and fans will be eagerly waiting for some answers.