Thomas Tuchel still feels the sting of Messi's comeback in Atlanta

In the dying moments of the Lionel Messi Argentina World Cup semi‑final in Atlanta, Argentina turned a 0‑1 deficit into a 2‑1 victory as Enzo Fernández struck in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez added a stoppage‑time winner, a comeback that denied England a first final in six decades.

England, the Three Lions, were minutes away from reaching their first World Cup final since 1966, clinging to Gordon’s goal deep into the second half before the Argentine surge overturned their hopes.

The turnaround became one of the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup, with Enzo Fernández equalising in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez sealing the win in stoppage time, sending Messi’s side through.

Tuchel’s lingering scar

Months after the match, the wound still hasn’t closed for Thomas Tuchel, the German coach who led England. In a trailer for the FA’s documentary, he told former striker Daniel Sturridge, “That is a very, very difficult road to go down that can torture you, and you can try to kill me here, but it’s my scar.” He added that the loss remains his personal burden, not something time has settled.

He insisted, “No one is more hurt than me. No one wanted it more.” He reflected that endless speculation about a different substitution haunts him, saying, “You just don’t know it.”

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Tactical reflections and Euro 2028 focus

Tuchel used the documentary to dissect Argentina’s frantic comeback, marveling at Lionel Scaloni’s willingness to shift to an ultra‑attacking 3‑1‑6 shape after falling behind. He noted the “level of madness” as “one change after another” and questioned why England’s own tactics against Norway did not receive the same scrutiny.

He defended his own cautious approach, recalling England’s earlier clash with Norway where he finished the game with five at the back. “We could have done it and maybe lost 2‑1, and people would have said ‘Is he crazy?’” he explained.

Despite the lingering scar, the pain has not shaken his position with the federation; England secured a bronze‑medal finish behind the finalists. Tuchel now looks ahead to guiding England into Euro 2028, carrying the memory of that night as motivation. He believes the experience will sharpen the squad’s resolve for the upcoming tournament.

The FA’s documentary, titled “Reflections: England’s World Cup Journey”, drops exclusively on the England app on 16 September, with the trailer shared on 14 September via the association’s official Twitter account.