THOMAS TUCHEL has warned England’s stars that holders Argentina will be fired up by “history” in tonight’s World Cup semi-final.
But the German manager reckons the Three Lions are ready to become heroes by reaching a first final at this tournament in 60 years.
Thomas Tuchel claims he understands what makes Argentinians tick ahead of semi clash Credit: Getty
Lionel Messi is the main man in the way of England’s shock appearance in the final Credit: Getty
Argentina players have sung songs about the 1982 Falklands conflict during the tournament and bad blood remains between the two countries over Diego Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal in 1986.
Ahead of facing Lionel Scaloni’s side, which includes megastar Lionel Messi, Tuchel said: “They believe in their style — and their style is very emotional. It was in Qatar and it is now. They have the same coach.
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“And of course, they are fuelled by history — it means a lot to them.
“This is what we expect and what we are up against.
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“But we are also emotional, we have the grit, we have the mentality that it takes to go up against it. And we are ready.
“I coached some of their players, I can sense it. They have this edge.
“You can sense it when they’re a goal down and when matches are tight. They are a tough team to beat.
“They are almost the same group as four years ago. You can see the cohesion, you can see the sacrifice that they put into it.
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England fans believe football is coming home with the Three Lions into the semi-finals.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on fire… but now they face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi-finals.
Spain have reached the final after beating tournament favourites France 2-0.
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“They don’t panic when they go behind.”
Tuchel, who coached Giovani Lo Celso and Leandro Paredes in his 2018-20 spell at Paris Saint-Germain, has told his players he is certain they can win here in Atlanta.
They have already overcome hotshot Erling Haaland in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway but this will be a far tougher contest.
Tuchel added: “There’s a way to handle these kinds of players. From my experience with South American players they love this family feeling — of eating together, having barbecues together and just having these strong, strong, strong connections. That’s where they thrive and that’s what they build.
“It’s not artificial and you cannot recreate it in a northern European environment because it’s just a totally different mindset.
“And that is basically the strengths, like they are ready to give everything for Leo Messi. Even if they are key players, big players in their club, it’s just how it is. They thrive on that.
“This is totally normal for them and makes them very, very strong.”
One player who was not a great is Tuchel himself, having played fourth-tier football for SSV Ulm before quitting aged 25 with a knee injury.
However, he has proved to be a fine manager.
Tuchel dug out a famous line from legendary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi about average footballers becoming great managers. Sacchi, 80, was a former shoe salesman whose football qualifications were questioned when he took over AC Milan in 1987.
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As Tuchel noted yesterday: “There’s a funny quote, ‘You don’t have to be a horse to be a good jockey!’”
He went on: “I would still like to have had a playing career, that was my dream. I never thought, or dreamt, about being a coach.
“I just feel very humble on the sidelines and, from time to time, it just strikes me right before the match and I think, ‘I couldn’t play here on this occasion’.
“In my first match at Dortmund, I thought, ‘Wow, I’m so glad I don’t have to play’, because I would not have had the legs for it.
“You need to be a special breed if you want to play. It’s so much easier said than done.
“If you see it on TV, then you sit in the stadium, and you sit on the bench, and then you stand there like I do, it makes you more humble.”
In his technical area today, Tuchel will certainly have a great view as he aims to take Harry Kane and his England pals into the final furlong.
