England’s heartbreaking World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina? Yeah, everyone’s dumping on Thomas Tuchel for those baffling tactical calls, but get this: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who knows a thing or two from his time as a Southgate assistant, is laying a significant chunk of the blame squarely on the players’ "mentality." Tuchel has taken a ton of flak for his tactics, especially that move to five at the back and dropping deep while England was still up 1-0 with 20 minutes left, totally inviting Argentina to push back. But Hasselbaink is saying hold up, the players themselves bear a heavy load of the blame.
The 1-0 Lead and The Mentality Meltdown
It was 1-0, baby, and England was on top. But then they went backward, deep, totally inviting Argentina to push, and that’s where Hasselbaink says the team’s heads went sideways. On The Good, The Bad & The Football YouTube show, he flat-out said, "After the 1-0, when they’re going backwards, that is not Tuchel. That has nothing to do with Tuchel. That is just a mentality of the players thinking, ‘Oh, we need to defend now that 1-0,’ instead of having the same kind of tactics and having the game in their half, because that’s really what they were doing." They totally abandoned the aggressive play that put them ahead! They were just begging for trouble, and Argentina, of course, delivered. Sure, Tuchel’s substitutions are his decisions, no doubt there, but that deep-lying, fearful posture? That came from within the squad, not the sideline.Bellingham Needed to Be Messi, Not Just a Star
But the blame doesn't stop with the general mentality. Hasselbaink went next-level, singling out Jude Bellingham. Our guy Bellingham, who had been an absolute monster throughout the tournament, had a seriously quiet outing against Argentina. Hasselbaink basically said, "Look, Jude needed to do what Lionel Messi did in the last 10 to 15 minutes: just come out, just come out of it." He needed to grab the game by the throat, demand the ball, and make something happen, just like the best do. Instead? Radio silence. On Tuchel's side, Hasselbaink questioned the five-back decision, especially with 20, 25 minutes left. He’s convinced former boss Gareth Southgate wouldn't have gone there, arguing Southgate would’ve kept a back four, swapped wide players, and maintained that attacking energy to press high and get behind their defense. Hasselbaink even suggested Southgate's assistant, Steve Holland, wouldn't have liked that switch either. That critical tactical switch by Tuchel, inviting pressure and playing conservative, totally "flipped momentum" in Argentina’s favor, leaving England fans scratching their heads. This brutal defeat brought an end to Tuchel’s very first major tournament as the Three Lions' gaffer. He took over from Southgate, who got England to two Euros finals and a couple of World Cup semi and quarter-finals, all with the hope Tuchel could finally get them "over the line." Now? His position is seriously under the microscope, with fans scrutinizing every single call that cost them. So, was it the coach's questionable decisions or the players' mental fragility that really sealed England's fate? The debate rages on, and either way, the dreams of lifting that World Cup trophy are shattered for another four years.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.