During a tense news conference before the bronze‑medal match, Thomas Tuchel deflected criticism over England’s 2-1 loss to Argentina, saying he has no regrets and will take responsibility. He explained that England’s 1-0 lead slipped as the defence deepened under constant pressure from Lionel Messi’s brilliance, and the team became too passive in the final minutes.

Tuchel cited the physical toll of the Mexico and Norway games, noting data that showed England’s performance dipped against Argentina. He argued that the back‑five setup was a deliberate attempt to cut off crosses and create width, but ultimately the strategy failed when Argentina found a second gear.

He reaffirmed the team’s spirit, insisting that England still has a gap to close with the world’s best. The coach pledged to use the painful defeat as a catalyst for improvement ahead of the 3rd‑place play‑off against France.

Despite criticism, Tuchel remains determined to keep challenging and to emerge stronger for future tournaments.