If, 4 weeks ago, you’d have told me that I’d be on Cucurella’s side in an instance such as this, I’d have assumed I’d had a life-altering blow to the head
Every single word of this from @Tim_Vickery is spot on. You literally couldn’t say it better.
England had Argentina exactly where we wanted them and gave them the game.
Tuchel: "We wanted to go for the second goal but we couldn't get out. We became more and more passive. We couldn't keep the ball. I don't think it was a structural problem."
I don’t even mind the idea of 5 at the back. What I mind is the fact that even before the equaliser, Argentina were creating chances and England had no out-ball, so there was time to admit you got it wrong, sack it off and bring Saka on for a CB and go back to 4-3-3.
Gordon was subbed out for Konsa in the 72nd minute.
This might make sense if you think games are 90 minutes long, but they are not.
This game was played another 30 minutes (102 minutes).
Let that sink in.
1. Argentina were not creating much to warrant shifting to 5 at back
2. Tuchel even had time to ditch the disastrous idea of 5 at back as Argentina were creating chances even before the equaliser
All in all those are the worst in-game changes that you will see. Sold the match.
This is actually one of the worst VAR decisions I've ever seen.
You're literally taught to step across the defender & protect the ball, from being a kid.
Spence didn't initiate contact, look to go down early, he simply got in front of his man and was penalised for it.