Hasselbaink shields Tuchel, blames England players for World Cup exit

England's dramatic World Cup defeat to Argentina ended the Three Lions’ tournament and placed Thomas Tuchel under intense scrutiny, while former assistant Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink argued the blame lies with the players rather than the German coach. The loss concluded England’s campaign and intensified debate over the manager’s tactics. England entered the semi‑final with a 1‑0 lead before the final 20 minutes, having secured the advantage early in the second half. The early lead gave the Three Lions a comfortable position heading into the closing stages. Argentina then intensified pressure, eventually overturning the deficit. Their sustained attacks in the last twenty minutes erased England’s advantage and secured the win. Thomas Tuchel shifted to a five‑defender formation in the second half, dropping the side deep and inviting sustained Argentine pressure. The tactical change left England defending the 1‑0 lead for roughly 20 minutes before the goal was conceded.

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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said, “After the 1‑0, when they’re going backwards, that is not Tuchel. That has nothing to do with Tuchel. That is just a mentality of the players thinking, ‘Oh, we need to defend now that 1‑0’, instead of having the same kind of tactics and having the game in their half, because that’s really what they were doing.” He added that the post‑substitution changes were Tuchel’s decision. Hasselbaink singled out Jude Bellingham, noting the midfielder’s quiet performance. He remarked, “He needed to do what Lionel Messi did in the last 10 to 15 minutes: just come out, just come out of it. Come out of it a little bit and touch the ball there.” Regarding former manager Gareth Southgate, Hasselbaink argued, “I don’t think Gareth would have gone to a back five with 20, 25 minutes left. I don’t think Steve Holland would have liked him to do that.” He referenced the Italy match, saying a five‑defender system had struggled there. The loss to Argentina marked the end of the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign and placed Thomas Tuchel under intense scrutiny. Hasselbaink’s assessment also reflects on Gareth Southgate’s legacy, and the defeat constitutes Tuchel’s first major tournament exit as England manager.