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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay

Anger at Tuchel over World Cup exit exposes biggest obstacle to England success

Thomas Tuchel and Jordan Henderson gesture from the touchline against Argentina with Nicolás Tagliafico in front of them
Thomas Tuchel tried to get his players to keep attacking Argentina when England took the lead but saw them retreat instead. Photograph: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/Shutterstock

In the end, Steve, Brian, Gaz or similar, he’s just not done the job he was hired to do. The job? The one he was hired to do? He’s not done it. How can I put this? There are three things here. The job. The being hired. The doing it. And him. Four things. And if you put those things together, there is no clear equation of … no linear semiotic cluster, he’s not, he’s just not, what I’m saying is …

How many times have you heard variations on this statement in the few short, tender weeks since England’s World Cup campaign? Perhaps you strayed too close to a sport-themed radio show, or accidentally ingested a celebrity football pundit podcast. Either way the verdict is pretty much universal, and delivered always with an air of finality, a sad shake of the head.

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