England not cursed, says Tuchel, after more World Cup heartbreak

ATLANTA, July 15 : England's long wait to win a World Cup or even reach the final goes on after a loss to holders Argentina on Wednesday, but manager Thomas Tuchel prefers to see it in football terms and not as a curse after a clash he described as two separate games.

England have not reached the decider since lifting the World Cup for the only time in 1966, and they looked like getting that monkey off their back until Argentina netted two late goals for a 2-1 win in the semi-final.

"I love to see these things in a football matter and not through football curses," Tuchel told reporters. "I don't believe so much in an English thing and in a curse or whatever, history repeating itself in these moments.

"It's just like it's different coaches, different players, different situations, different opponents. So I think basically I believe in the football thing."

England took the lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon but Argentina then seized control and Tuchel's side failed to withstand the pressure or find a way to gain some possession.

"I think at that point of the match, it was deserved, that we take our moment and go 1-0 up," Tuchel said.

"Unfortunately, and strangely enough, it marked then a complete momentum switch in the game.

"Argentina played with more risk, played with more rhythm, played with a feeling maybe that they have nothing to lose anymore, which freed them up and held us back because we obviously played suddenly with a feeling that we have a lot to lose.

"I think it's two completely different matches. It's until the goal and then after the goal."

Tuchel received great praise for getting England this far, coming through tough battles with DR Congo, Mexico and Norway, but is already under fire for the changes