Petr Cech has pinpointed two key factors behind England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina. The former Chelsea goalkeeper believes manager Thomas Tuchel's five-defender setup backfired despite its defensive intent.
"He wanted to play with five at the back so they would have the advantage defensively," Cech told FlashScore. "But they couldn't step up out of the second line or put pressure on the ball, and in the end, that buried them."
The Czech Republic legend found it baffling that a team of England's calibre allowed itself to become so passive. "It looks strange when a team like England let themselves get pinned back like that," he said.
Beyond tactics, Cech identified a mental dimension to the defeat. He argued that England's players simply crumbled under the pressure as the match wore on.
"On the other hand, I think the players couldn't handle the weight of the moment, and the closing stages of the match got away from them," Cech added. Argentina's comeback victory sent them through to the final, leaving England's semi-final hopes in tatters.
