Overview
- England were eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, a match in which Argentina scored late through Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez.
- Hours after the defeat, Gary Lineker used the Netflix edition of The Rest Is Football to joke that Thomas Tuchel might be a “German spy” and to sharply criticise Tuchel’s tactical switch away from attacking play.
- Lineker singled out Tuchel’s late substitutions of defenders Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly and Dan Burn as tactical errors that left Lionel Messi room on the right to supply both Argentina goals.
- Patrick Vieira, a guest on the show, pushed back against calls for Tuchel to be sacked and said it would be madness to change the coach, creating a clear split in public commentary.
- News outlets say the FA and Tuchel were contacted for comment and the exchange has put renewed pressure on the governing body to clarify Tuchel’s position in the coming days.