Thomas Tuchel has been accused of lying to England supporters just days after the Three Lions’ heartbreaking World Cup exit. England had reached the semi-finals for just the fourth time in their history, but were dispatched by reigning champions Argentina on Wednesday night.
They were able to salvage some pride in the third-place play-off, defeating France to confirm their best finish at a World Cup since 1966. But Tuchel’s tactics in the Argentina clash came under heavy scrutiny for being too negative.
The ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager subbed on three defenders after England went 1-0 up on Wednesday night, but it just invited Lionel Messi and Argentina to exploit the spaces. Argentina turned the game around late on, breaking England’s hearts and booking their spot in a second consecutive World Cup final.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he remarked: “His DNA comments really wound me up. He’s basically trying to say we haven’t got the DNA and the talent pool from our academies to produce Spanish-type players who can keep the ball.
“Yes we have. The whole world wants to take our English talent. Like Jude Bellingham. They want to take our players now, so many young players from England will go to Germany, Spain, Italy. Never used to see that before.
“Now, they’re all looking at our academies because we have got the pool of players. So him saying this is absolute garbage.”
England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off, with Bukayo Saka – who didn’t play at all vs Argentina – the standout man. It was a performance filled with attacking endeavour, with critics suggesting it was too little too late for the 1966 winners.
O’Hara continued: “Watching them play vs France with the shackles off when there’s no pressure, watching them roll the ball about, it just wound me up.