The script has been torn up, the plans rewritten, as England's World Cup semi-final dreams were cruelly snuffed out by Argentina. Manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics are facing the full blast of criticism after that gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat in Qatar, with questions raised about his decision-making under the intense pressure of a major tournament.
The English players, having taken an early lead through Anthony Gordon's goal, seemingly took their foot off the pedal, adopting a more defensive approach that allowed Argentina to take control. But was it really a case of England playing for safety, or were Tuchel's substitutions the spark that ignited the South Americans' surge? Some pundits point to the manager's choice of personnel as the turning point, while others argue that England had already begun to retreat into their shell.
A closer examination of the crucial 13 minutes following Gordon's goal reveals a more nuanced picture. Yes, Argentina did push hard for an equaliser, but it wasn't like they were blowing England off the park. In fact, the Three Lions created another attacking opportunity almost immediately after the restart, putting the Argentines on their heels once again.
The debate rages on about whether Tuchel's decisions sealed England's fate or if a different approach might have yielded a different result. Some analysts argue that it was simply a case of poor decision-making, possibly exacerbated by player fatigue. Lionel Messi wasn't dominating the game at this stage, and it's claimed that the outcome was far from inevitable.
The real turning point? The second drinks break, when Tuchel's choices are now under the microscope for potentially undermining England's chances. In hindsight, some suggest that substituting Harry Kane for Ollie Watkins could have maintained an attacking press, while introducing Bukayo Saka would have added defensive solidity and creativity.
One thing's for sure: a more ambitious approach, focused on winning rather than merely surviving, might just have made all the difference in this World Cup semi-final showdown.
The post-mortem is well underway, but one thing's clear - Tuchel's tactics will be under the microscope for weeks to come as England's fans and pundits alike try to make sense of what went wrong in Qatar.