Effort, spirit and moments - but do England lack all-round quality?
England's football team faces scrutiny following a disappointing World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, extending a 60-year trophy drought. Critics and head coach Thomas Tuchel are questioning the team's tactical reliability and overall quality despite individual brilliance from players like Harry Kane.
Why it matters
The analysis highlights the recurring struggle of a major national sports team to convert individual talent into tournament success.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Thomas Tuchel led England to their second World Cup semi-final in the past three tournaments
Chief football writer Published 1 hour ago Thomas Tuchel claimed you could bottle up England's mentality and sell it. What you could not sell is their big-game reliability when it matters.
Head coach Tuchel was talking in an outspoken interview after the World Cup quarter-final win against Norway, in which he was highly critical of England's performance in the 2-1 victory.
The desperate late collapse that resulted in England losing to Argentina in the subsequent semi-final, missing out on a first men's World Cup final appearance since they won the tournament at Wembley in 1966, raised familiar questions about a string of near misses.
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