Trump slams England’s Kane tactic after Argentina loss

United States President Donald Trump has joined the debate over England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, questioning manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to use captain Harry Kane in a defensive role during the closing stages of the match.

England suffered a painful 2-1 defeat after surrendering their lead against Argentina, with Lionel Messi inspiring a late comeback that sent the South Americans into Sunday’s final against Spain.

The tactical decisions made by Tuchel after England went ahead through Anthony Gordon have attracted criticism from pundits and supporters, with many questioning the decision to switch to a defensive approach instead of pushing for a second goal.

Trump, speaking during a reception at Trump Tower, said England may have made a mistake by limiting the influence of their captain.

“You have a great player in England who I’ve played golf with. And he is Harry [Kane] who has been fantastic,” Trump said.

“I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player. They took their best player and put him on defence.”

The US president added: “We got to be a little offensive, right? But no, I’m not going to call it, what do I know about coaching? But that was a little unusual.”

Tuchel had introduced a number of defensive-minded changes as England attempted to protect their advantage, moving to a back-five formation as Argentina increased pressure in search of an equaliser.

However, the move backfired as Argentina found spaces late in the game and scored twice to complete a dramatic turnaround.

The defeat has placed attention on Tuchel’s tactical choices, with some England players reportedly disappointed with how the team was instructed to finish the match after taking the lead.

Tuchel, however, dismissed Trump’s comments when asked about the president’s criticism, insisting that decisions made during matches are based on the demands of the game.

Trump also spoke about his involvement in the controversy surrounding USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the tournament.

Balogun had initially been handed a one-match suspension after receiving a straight red card for a challenge on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, leaving him set to miss the last-16 clash against Belgium.

But FIFA later suspended the automatic ban for 12 months, allowing the striker to feature in the knockout stage.

Trump said he contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the matter, adding that he wanted the situation reviewed.

The president also praised the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, describing it as one of the biggest sporting events ever staged.

FIFA president Infantino said the tournament had exceeded expectations, describing it as a global celebration of football.

Meanwhile, England must now reflect on another missed opportunity after their semi-final exit, while Argentina prepare to face Spain in the World Cup final.