BBC Sport understands that Thomas Tuchel's defensive tactics in the World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina are being hotly debated by the England squad.

Defeat means England's men will not have reached a World Cup final for at least 64 years England's defensive retreat in their agonising World Cup semi-final 2-1 loss to Argentina on Wednesday has become the big talking point – and that topic is also being hotly debated among members of Thomas Tuchel's squad. A number of sources have indicated to BBC Sport that a clutch of key players were left disappointed at how the team approached the final stages of the game. However, fresh comments from Tuchel have emerged in which he said that it was never the plan to drop deeper and that "it's maybe not in our DNA…to control the game and ball". Leading 1-0 with 35 minutes left to play, England appeared to be on course for their first men's World Cup final since 1966. But the momentum shift was startling. While it was natural for Argentina to start chasing the game, England have been criticised for seeming to hand their opponents the initiative. England manager Tuchel set his team up with a back-five to defend their lead - only to see it being overturned in the closing stages amid wave after wave of Argentina pressure. BBC Sport pundit Wayne Rooney said the defeat "started from the manager and the decisions he made".