Former Super Eagles head coach Sunday Oliseh has taken aim at England manager Thomas Tuchel after the Three Lions’ dramatic 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England looked set for the final after Anthony Gordon put them ahead early in the second half. But Argentina responded late, with Enzo Fernández levelling in the 84th minute before Lautaro Martínez struck the winner in stoppage time, sealing a remarkable comeback.
Oliseh said Tuchel’s tactical choices contributed to the collapse, particularly after England moved in front.
“One of the worst-managed games in World Cup history. You’re leading 1-0 with more than 25 minutes to play, and you park the entire bus inside your own box? Bringing the lone striker deeper is what invites relentless pressure. The moment you stop playing and only defend, a 2-1 heartbreak becomes inevitable,” Oliseh said.
The former Nigeria captain acknowledged that safeguarding a slim advantage in a semi-final is understandable, but argued England should have managed the ball more effectively once they were in possession.
“Defending a 1-0 lead in the semi-finals is logical. But it is amateurish and shockingly naïve not to have the capability to play out when you eventually get the ball.”
Tuchel, however, rejected the idea that England’s defeat should be viewed as a curse, insisting the contest unfolded as two separate stories rather than one continuous narrative.
England had not reached the showpiece match since winning the World Cup for the only time in 1966, and they appeared close to ending that wait until Argentina scored twice late to win 2-1 in the last-four tie.
Asked about the wider talk surrounding history and bad luck, Tuchel told reporters: “I prefer to look at these moments in football terms, not through football curses. I don’t buy into it as an English thing, or the idea of a curse repeating itself at times like this.
“It’s different coaches, different squads, different circumstances, different opponents. So I basically believe in the football aspect.”
How the semi-final swung
- Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, putting the Three Lions on course for the final.
- After that breakthrough, Argentina took control of the tempo and looked increasingly comfortable as the game went on.
- Enzo Fernández levelled for Argentina in the 84th minute, turning the match on its head.
- Lautaro Martínez then scored the decisive goal in almost stoppage time to complete Argentina’s late surge and earn a 2-1 win.
Tuchel said the turning point came after England’s goal, arguing Argentina’s risk-taking and rhythm changed the balance of the match—and that his side were unable to withstand it or regain enough control.
“At that point of the match, it felt deserved that we seized our moment and went 1-0 up,” Tuchel said. “Unfortunately—and strangely enough—that’s when the momentum switched completely.
“Argentina played with more risk, with more rhythm, and with the feeling that they had nothing to lose. That freed them up and held us back because we suddenly played with the sense that we had a lot to lose.
“It’s two completely different games. It’s until the goal, and then after the goal.”
Credit and criticism for Tuchel
Tuchel has already received strong praise for steering England to this stage, including navigating difficult clashes against DR Congo, Mexico and Norway. Still, he is now facing scrutiny for the tactical changes he made against Argentina once England were ahead, with critics suggesting the approach became too defensive.
The German manager dismissed the cycle of blame after setbacks, saying criticism follows defeats regardless of alternatives.
“That’s the nature of the game. The moment you lose, you get criticised,” he said.
“That’s just how it works. You get criticised after. No one can say what would have happened if you made different decisions, so it makes no sense to get drawn into it and lose my head. I’m responsible for the team—I brought them in, so I accept the criticism.”
