Nick Ames is online now
After a late comeback from Argentina led to heartbreak for England in last night’s World Cup semi-final, Guardian football reporter Nick Ames is online now answering your questions
Key events
Did Tuchel know Declan Rice wasn’t on top form?
BrightonPeer asks: Did Tuchel know how injured Saka and (especially) Rice were when he picked his squad? My sense is that he can’t have known about Rice, because if he had known surely he takes one or two spare central midfielders who weren’t just there for the vibes or, well, whatever Mainoo was there for given Tuchel clearly doesn’t trust him?
Nick says:
Afraid he did! Both players’ issues have been well known for a long time – Rice in particular goes back to the start of the year. And there’s too much information around nowadays for anything like this to fly under the radar. Managers have to choose whether to take calculated gambles or not, just as Lionel Scaloni did with a couple of his full-backs. But the situation with midfield cover is, I agree, utterly exasperating. It is where matches are won and lost. Tuchel’s squad selection had a strong emphasis on being “good tourists”, which explains the Henderson call-up, and I sympathise with that to some extent. But would he have brought Adam Wharton if he had his time again? Maybe he’ll tell us one day.
Would long throw-ins have thrown opponents?
BrianFantana asks: Aside from the obvious squad omissions, do you think England should have incorporated more long throw-ins? They aren’t pretty but they were the story of the PL this year and would have taken a lot of countries by surprise.
Nicks says:
Do they have anyone who can chuck it far enough? Maybe Declan Rice. It’s a decent point but to be honest I’ve rather enjoyed a World Cup light on them. Perhaps the long throw can be England’s answer to the Spanish football identity in future!
Would a final against Spain have left us red faced?
Mentalfloss asks: On the basis of last night’s performance did we narrowly avoid being completely embarrassed by Spain on Sunday?
Nick says:
Look, it’s a distinct possibility. But – and I know this is the most terrible cliche – every game is its own universe. Perhaps England would have played their own game against Spain, rather than getting sucked into the snarl and niggle Argentina wanted during the first half. It would have been a fascinating clash between one consistent idea and another that appears to change on the hoof.
Nick Ames is online now
After a late comeback from Argentina led to heartbreak for England in last night’s World Cup semi-final, Guardian football reporter Nick Ames is online now answering your questions
Welcome to the Conversation
It’s been a morning of dejection for England fans after their defeat by Argentina last night in Atlanta. But, from Mendoza to Malaga, there is huge excitement for Sunday’s final. Of course, there’s also the third/fourth place playoff between England and France in Miami on Saturday still to come.
Over the past few weeks Nick has seen Spain canter to the final against France in Dallas, Argentina come back to life against Switzerland in Kansas City, England’s heroics in Mexico City and, importantly, reported away from the sporting action: his piece on the impact that a refinery owned by Aramco (one of Fifa’s most lucrative sponsors) has had on locals in Port Arthur, 100 miles away from host city Houston is a must read.
Nick is online online now answering your questions.
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And here’s something to read in the meantime.
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