Michael Owen has delivered a sharp rebuke of Thomas Tuchel's management of England's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against Argentina, calling the head coach's defensive approach a betrayal of the team's potential after their 2-1 defeat.

The former Liverpool and England striker was unsparing in his assessment, arguing that Tuchel's substitutions following Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal were passive to the point of handing Argentina control of the match on a plate.

"That's not brave — it's the opposite"

Owen was particularly scathing about England's decision to retreat into a low block after taking the lead, insisting the tactic drained the side of any momentum and ultimately cost them a place in the final.

"Dropping back and putting 11 men on the edge of your own box, and then just heading it wherever or kicking it as far as you can, that's not brave — it's the opposite," he told BBC Sport.

He went further, dismissing the notion that a gutsy, backs-to-the-wall performance deserves praise in itself.

"Football isn't about getting a bloody nose and everyone saying that's fantastic, it's rubbish. I can get my local pub team to do that and that's why we lost out in this World Cup."

The Mexico celebration that set a dangerous tone

Owen also turned his attention to England's reaction after beating Mexico in an earlier round, suggesting the manner of the celebrations planted a damaging seed of complacency in the squad's mindset.

"Celebrating that win over Mexico in the way we did was wrong. As a player, the minute that happens, you start to think 'we've won.' Subconsciously, when you go 1-0 up — what are the players going to think?"

He argued that bringing on three defenders after Gordon's goal sent entirely the wrong message to the reigning world champions, effectively inviting Argentina to push for the equalizer — which they duly delivered before going on to win the tie.

Owen insisted that England's inability to hold possession or shift the momentum following Argentina's equalizer triggered a collapse that made the final scoreline feel inevitable.