Atlanta (Georgia) [US], July 17: England players will have lost belief after Thomas Tuchel's second-half substitutions in the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, according to former captain Wayne Rooney.
Anthony Gordon put England ahead early in the second half but was soon withdrawn by Tuchel, who brought on defenders Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly in the final 20 minutes.
His changes backfired as Enzo Fernandez equalized in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner to seal Argentina's spot in Sunday's final.
England's defensive approach to holding a lead carried eerie echoes of their 2018 semi loss to Croatia and their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, with former boss Gareth Southgate criticized in some circles for his tactical approach.
They fell on their swords again under Southgate in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, with the manager again slammed for his tactics and now German Tuchel is also under the microscope.
Speaking on the BBC, former England and Manchester United forward Rooney said: "If you're an attacking player on that pitch and you go 1-0 up and you see the changes which the manager's making, you're losing belief, there's only so many times you can get away with it.
"Then you start thinking, oh no we're going to sit back for this long, how are we going to get through this?"
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart also drew tactical comparisons between Southgate and Tuchel.
He said: "I think Gareth Southgate will be at home watching this game, he took a lot of criticism when it came to the big moments with England when they had the lead and when they were in big games about shutting up shop.
"I don't see anything's changed in that big moment out there.
"Thomas Tuchel, for as much praise as we've given him, for him to change it as soon as he did, I think he realised that's him saying he didn't believe in his team, he didn't think they could land any more punches on Argentina."
BBC commentator Alan Shearer added: "I said it on commentary, they had six defenders on the pitch, (he) played his hand and wanted to hang on.
"Hanging on v Norway and Mexico ... they perhaps don't have the quality Argentina have in terms of ability on ball and to punish, plus their attitude.
"He played his cards very early in the hope he could hang on and it backfired. Those decisions are the ones which can make such as difference.
"We praised him v Mexico and now we're going to go the other way ... could he have put some pace on? They were physically and mentally done once Argentina got that first goal."
Source: Qatar Tribune
