What was missing was relief (from pressure) and any offensive actions.
"We weren't able to kill the game off." Kane explained to the "BBC": "After we took the lead, we only tried to hold onto the result, which isn't enough at this level."
Twelve Percent Possession After Taking the Lead
What Kane described as "pretty good pressing" was, however, above all one thing after Gordon's 1-0: passive. The English had twelve percent possession in 37 minutes between their own opening goal and Martinez's 1-2.
In the first 17 minutes after Gordon's goal, England still played with the same basic formation as before. But in the 72nd minute, center-back Ezri Konsa came on for the goalscorer, who was positioned on the left wing – and Tuchel switched to a back five.
Wir haben nichts geändert, aber das Spiel hat sich komplett verändert.
Why, actually? "Because the gaps were too open (...) We played in our 4-4-2 and became increasingly passive. We couldn't win balls, couldn't keep possession, and allowed too many crosses," Tuchel explains.
Because until the 72nd minute, the system was essentially the same. "We didn't change anything after the goal, but the game completely changed. You can discuss that with a million coaches. I have to make a decision on the pitch; that's how I analyzed the game and behaved in a certain way."
However, Tuchel's changes did not bring the expected result – quite the opposite. His team became even more passive, allowed even more crosses, and completely lost control.
Nevertheless, the German emphasizes that he currently has "no regrets." "The team gave everything, and we were very, very close." Perhaps, Tuchel suggests, it might even have been England's best match of this World Cup – "under these circumstances."
In the end, however, he would bear the responsibility.
