July 16, 06:25

England Legends Criticize Tuchel for Tactics After World Cup Semi-Final Loss

Following England's defeat in the World Cup semi-finals, several legendary players voiced sharp criticism of manager Thomas Tuchel, accusing him of transitioning too early to a defensive tactic.

Tournament Context and Expectations

Thomas Tuchel was appointed as coach with high expectations, as his goal was to add a second star to England's history by winning the World Cup. After many years of disappointment and near misses, Tuchel was seen as the missing link capable of ending the long wait for the 'Three Lions' title. His predecessor, Gareth Southgate, led a talented generation of players to two major World Cup finals—the semi-final and the quarter-final—but both campaigns ended in failure. Furthermore, Southgate was often criticized for slow tactical adaptation to changing match conditions.

Despite Tuchel's tactical acumen, which previously led Chelsea to win the Champions League title in 2021, England was eliminated from the tournament against Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday. The loss occurred in a familiar manner for the team: they failed to capitalize on a 1-0 lead, allowed the opponent to exert pressure, and lost 2-1. This marked the third instance since the 2018 World Cup when England lost a major match in the semi-final or final while holding an advantage.

Former England striker Michael Owen criticized the changes made by Tuchel in the second half, calling the defeat a missed opportunity. He stated that England was better than Argentina but ultimately deserved to lose, and could have won 4-1. Owen faulted the introduction of three defenders when the score was 1-0, noting: 'What message does this send?... Until we understand that courage and bravery are about ball control under pressure, not a shot/header in the field at 40 yards, this is what the result will always be.'

Although Tuchel accepted responsibility for the defeat, he refuted suggestions that his substitutions in the second half were to blame. The coach, who started working in early 2025, argued that the flow of the game changed even before his tactical adjustments, when Argentina began pressing more desperately. When asked if he made a tactical error, he replied that it is simply the nature of the game and that criticism is inevitable after a loss. He emphasized that he takes responsibility because he took the job.

www.albawaba.comJuly 16, 10:26

2021 Post Predicted 2026 World Cup Final Between Argentina and Spain

A recent post published in 2021 reappeared on social media after users noticed that it accurately predicted the matchup between Argentina and Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Team Performance

Argentina recently defeated England 2-0, which allowed them to advance to the final. England faced criticism from fans because the entire team adopted a defensive tactic after scoring only one goal against Emiliano Martínez, which gave Argentina more opportunities to score against Pickford.

Spain's Path to the Final

In contrast, Spain qualified for the final by defeating France 2-0, thanks to the excellent defense of Marc Cucurella. Although predictions about the winner of the next World Cup were actively discussed on social media, one post from 2021 went viral.

Prediction and User Reaction

This post sparked debate and suspicion regarding the identity of the user who also predicted that Argentina would beat Spain 3-2 on July 19th. The user under the nickname 'dilemma' wrote: 'Argentina just beat Spain in the 2026 World Cup final with a score of 3-2.' Another user replied to this post: 'How is it even possible to predict, WOW!', while another added: 'You wrote this before the 2022 World Cup, what is your source, please?'

uza.uzJuly 16, 10:01

Young Judoka Participate in Asian Championship in Indonesia

Today, July 16, junior judo competitions are starting in Amman, the capital of Jordan, as part of the Asian Championship.

Competitions and Participants

On the first day of the tournament, the most talented young judokas from twenty countries will take part. The fighting will take place in eight weight categories.

List of Athletes

In the men's categories (-50, -55, -60, -66 kg) and women's categories (-40, -44, -48, -52 kg), young judokas, including Akbar Sharipov, Ma'murjon Abduvahobov, Bobur Yusupov, Davlatbek Ahrorov, Abubakr Sattorov, Akromjon Karimov, Irodu Sirojiddinov, Alina Kolyucheva, Dilafruz Boltaboyeva, Charos Hikmatov, Mohinur Ollaberganov, and Kumushbibi Ergashev, are vying for prize places in their respective weight groups.

The Asian Championship will last until July 17.

uza.uzJuly 16, 09:52

Wayne Rooney names Jude Bellingham the best player of the 2026 World Cup

Legendary English forward Wayne Rooney stated that Jude Bellingham is the best football player of the 2026 World Cup.

Assessment of Bellingham's Play

Rooney noted that although many discuss players like Mbappé or Haaland, Bellingham has not yet fully reached the level of these stars at Real Madrid this season. Nevertheless, in Rooney's opinion, Jude is the best player of this World Cup.

He emphasized that Bellingham embodies energy, enthusiasm, and a thirst for victory, reaping the rewards of his efforts due to these qualities. Rooney considers such character rare among footballers.

Playing Style and Fighting Spirit

Unlike many top players who rely primarily on their technical talent to create chances, Jude is always ready to fight, is open, and strives very hard for victory. Watching his game is a pleasure. Fans, especially English supporters, value players who fight for the team and the crest until the end.

Overcoming Doubts

Rooney added that initially, he thought: 'This guy is a genius,' and then: 'Be careful in the fight, a red card might come out.' He admitted that he thought so himself, but Jude managed to prove his skill in the most important tournament, answering all doubts.

As is known, England left the tournament after losing to Argentina 1-2 in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.