Gary Lineker's witty tongue-lashing of Thomas Tuchel has left fans in stitches – but the England manager's integrity intact. The cheeky jibe, likening Tuchel to a 'German spy', was levied during the Netflix podcast 'The Rest is Football' following England's heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta.
Lineker, ever the straight-talking commentator, didn't mince words as he pondered whether Tuchel had been secretly dispatched from Berlin to sabotage England's chances. "I just wonder if Thomas Tuchel's like a German spy – we've been infiltrated!" he quipped, adding, "I reckon Germany, struggling themselves at the moment, couldn't even get out of their group stage, so they've sent in someone to help us lose our way." Quickly clarifying that it was all just a bit of fun, Lineker got straight back to dissecting Tuchel's tactics.
The usually reserved pundit ripped into what he saw as Tuchel's tactical U-turn. Lineker recalled the manager's pre-Croatia match press conference, where Tuchel declared that if they lost, it would be because of "playing aggressive, attacking football". But then, Lineker argued, they went totally against their stated philosophy – and England paid the price for not adopting a more expansive game plan.
The conversation also touched on Tuchel's future at the helm. While stating he never calls for managers to lose their jobs, Lineker wondered aloud whether Tuchel was still the right man to lead England into battle. But guest Patrick Vieira, the former Arsenal and France legend, came out swinging in defence of his counterpart – "It would be madness to get rid of him now," he declared.
Lineker's own future at the BBC has been under scrutiny recently after his departure last May, following controversy over an Instagram post that sparked widespread debate. However, it seems Lineker remains as sharp-tongued and outspoken as ever – much to the delight of football fans across the nation!