Neville: Tuchel's Tactics, Not 'English DNA,' Killed England's World Cup Dream

England got bounced. A 2-1 loss to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, and what does Tuchel trot out afterwards? That tired old trope about the country's football culture. 'It's not in our DNA like it is in Spanish DNA or in Argentinian-Brazilian DNA, to take the ball and control the game,' the manager whined.

Neville wasn't having it. Not even a little bit. On the Stick to Football Podcast, the man laid it bare: Tuchel blew it. He failed to get Kobbie Mainoo on the pitch when the midfield absolutely screamed for some technical finesse. Then there was the decision to yank Anthony Gordon for Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute, chasing a game. That's a 'message to hang on,' Neville sneered. A clear sign to the players: bunker down. Pure cowardice.

And it gets worse. Neville highlighted the truly egregious stuff: Tuchel left a slew of actual ballers out of the squad entirely. Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White, Trent Alexander-Arnold. These aren't just good players. 'He's left out what would be generational talents,' Neville said. The very players you'd need if you wanted to, you know, 'take the ball and control the game.' Convenient, that.

Sure, England has a history of folding in tournaments. Twenty, thirty years of it. We all know the drill. But this semi-final exit? That's on Tuchel's in-game brain farts. The manager tried to 'see the game out' with those defensive-minded changes, a carbon copy of his strategy against Mexico. That worked out well, didn't it? Argentina, relentless as ever, just kept coming. And then Lionel Messi dropped a magnificent second goal on us. Game over.

Sky Sports News says the FA isn't even looking at Tuchel's job. He's apparently still on the hook to lead England all the way to Euro 2028. Read into that what you will.