Vancouver Whitecap Thomas Muller celebrates his goal during a Canadian Championship quarter-final match against Cavalry FC, in Burnaby, B.C. earlier this month.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Thomas Muller criticized England’s tactics after it surrendered a late 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s 2-1 FIFA World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.
Muller, who played under England coach Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, said England invited pressure by allowing Argentina to repeatedly deliver crosses into dangerous areas instead of trying to control possession.
“Argentina plays a hell of a game, and I cannot believe and understand how England approaches this game, and especially after they’re leading,” Muller said.
“I cannot understand to invite the whole Argentinean game to hit one cross after the other in perfect crossing positions, but no matter.”
England appeared on course for a place in Sunday’s World Cup final after Anthony Gordon put it ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina controlled 88 per cent of possession the rest of the way.
England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina proves to be an agonizing blow
Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute before substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time.
Tuchel shifted into a defensive posture late in the match, introducing defenders Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly in an attempt to protect the lead as Argentina piled on the pressure.
“They won every header. They kept crossing and crossing. So we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be stronger in the air,” Tuchel said.
“Straight after our goal, with no substitutions, we just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances. So we tried to help. But of course the responsibility is on the coach. And … if it doesn’t go well, it’s easy to say that it was wrong.”
TV Pundit and former player Thomas Muller stands on the sidelines at BC Place in Vancouver before a World Cup match.Agustin Marcarian/Reuters
Argentina advanced to Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 36-year-old Muller knows World Cup success. He won the Golden Boot at the 2010 tournament and helped Germany defeat Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the 2014 final. After retiring from international soccer in 2024, he returned to this year’s World Cup as a commentator for Magenta TV.
His comments came in a video posted to social media before the Whitecaps departed for Chicago.
Vancouver’s Thursday match against the Chicago Fire was postponed due to poor air quality in Chicago, owing to wildfires burning in northern Ontario. The match would have pitted Muller against his former Bayern Munich teammate Robert Lewandowski, who will soon make his MLS debut.
The game will instead take place on Oct. 6, with tickets for the original date remaining valid.
With files from The Associated Press.