World Cup 2026: Gary Neville Defends Tuchel Despite England's Semi-final Defeat to Argentina -

Gary Neville has defended England manager Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, insisting he will not join calls for the German coach to be blamed for the exit.

England looked on course for a place in the final after Anthony Gordon put them ahead early in the second half. However, Argentina responded through Enzo Fernandez before Lautaro Martinez completed the comeback to send the defending champions into Sunday’s final against Spain.

Tuchel has faced heavy criticism over his tactical approach and substitutions, particularly after England retreated deep into their own half while protecting the lead. Despite the backlash, Neville believes England’s collapse reflects a long-standing problem rather than a failure by one manager.

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The former Manchester United defender said he never expected England to win the tournament and described reaching the semi-finals as a respectable achievement. He argued that England have repeatedly struggled in major tournaments by sitting too deep after taking the lead, allowing opponents to dominate possession and create sustained pressure.

Neville admitted he experienced similar situations during his own England career, saying the team has often lacked the technical quality to control games against elite opponents. He added that Argentina’s experience and the brilliance of Lionel Messi ultimately made the difference.

While acknowledging that Tuchel’s substitutions and game management will be questioned, Neville said the England boss deserves time to reflect rather than immediate condemnation. He also suggested the decision not to introduce technically gifted players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka or Marcus Rashford may have cost England the chance to regain control of the match.

Neville also responded to criticism from Argentina defender Cristian Romero, who had labelled him “stupid” over previous comments about Argentina’s central defensive partnership.

Neville maintained that while Romero and Lisandro Martinez are talented defenders, they remain prone to costly mistakes and insisted Argentina’s success continues to be driven primarily by Messi’s influence rather than their back line.