Thomas Tuchel has passionately defended his controversial substitutions during England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. With England leading 1-0 and just minutes away from a potential final appearance, goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the match around after Tuchel opted for a defensive strategy.

Tuchel acknowledged that his decision to switch to a back five midway through the second half may have been premature. He cited England's fatigue and Argentina's aggressive tactics as reasons for his changes, stating, "You can try to kill me here. But it's my scar, it's not your scar."

Key moments included:

• Jordan Pickford's crucial save before the water break, prompting Tuchel to bring on defender Ezri Konsa.
• The shift to a back five, which was influenced by Argentina's relentless attacking style, described by Tuchel as "f*** it football."

Reflecting on the match, Tuchel noted that Djed Spence's crucial tackle marked a turning point, leading to a shift in mindset where England played defensively rather than maintaining their attacking momentum.

He expressed that the emotional toll of previous matches, including a late victory against DR Congo and playing with 10 men in the Azteca, contributed to the team's fatigue.

In hindsight, Tuchel admitted that had England been more stable and maintained better ball possession, he would not have changed the formation. He emphasized that his decisions were aimed at addressing immediate threats rather than for personal ego, stating, "That's what the intervention of a coach is. I try to help."

Ultimately, Tuchel's reflections reveal the complexities of coaching at the highest level, especially during such a pivotal tournament.