Gary Neville has launched a scathing rebuttal of Thomas Tuchel's claim that English football's "DNA" was to blame for the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, accusing the England manager of undermining his own squad by omitting technically gifted players.
The Three Lions surrendered a 1-0 second-half lead in Atlanta, with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez sealing a 2-1 win for the holders. Tuchel, under fire for his defensive substitutions after Anthony Gordon's opener, suggested afterwards that English football lacks the DNA to control a game with the ball.
Sky Sports News understands the FA are fully behind Tuchel, who signed a two-year contract extension before the tournament and is set to lead the team into Euro 2028. However, Neville insisted the German's comments ignored his own personnel decisions.
'He left out generational talents'
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the former England defender highlighted the creative players omitted from the squad or left on the bench.
"I have a big problem with that. He didn't bring Kobbie Mainoo on, who could handle the ball better than most. He didn't bring Bukayo Saka on, who could probably handle the ball better than most. But he also left Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home – technical players. He's left out what would be generational talents."
Neville also questioned the message sent by Tuchel's reactive changes after Gordon's goal.
"Putting three defensive players on before he brings on an attacker. He will regret that. He gave the players a message to hang on, and they were dropping deeper, and he didn't really help them get out."
Same old England pattern
In a separate interview with Sky Sports News, Neville acknowledged familiar failings but refused to place all blame on Tuchel, drawing on his own experiences at eight tournaments as player or coach.
"The same patterns emerged that have happened with England in tournaments gone by over the last 20 to 30 years. Many of them ended up sitting back on our own box, not on the front foot. The very opposite of what English football is."
Tuchel remains committed and pointed to an "avalanche of pressure" and Lionel Messi's quality for the second goal. But the debate over England's identity – and the manager's role in reinforcing it – will rage on.
