US President Donald Trump has added to criticism of England’s approach in their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, questioning Harry Kane’s more “defensive” role after half-time.
Manager Thomas Tuchel’s second-half changes drew fire from pundits and fans following the 2-1 loss, as Argentina struck twice late on to book a Sunday final with Spain (20:00 BST).
BBC Sport reported on Thursday that a number of key players were left unhappy with the instructions on how to see out the match after Anthony Gordon had given England the lead.
Tuchel shifted to a back five and introduced several defensively minded substitutes in the closing minutes, as Lionel Messi inspired a late comeback.
Trump, who said he has played golf with Kane, praised the striker but suggested England misused him after the interval.
He argued England may have erred by assigning Kane a deeper, more defensive role once they went ahead, adding that while he isn’t a soccer coach, the switch seemed unusual.
Trump also suggested the team should have remained more attack-minded, while stressing he was not trying to second-guess the coaching staff.
Tuchel later brushed off Trump’s remarks when they were put to him at a news conference.
Speaking at a Friday reception at Trump Tower, the president also recounted asking Fifa to review USA forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban.
Balogun, 25, had been set to miss the last-16 tie with Belgium after receiving a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round.
Fifa then made the surprise call to suspend the automatic one-game ban for 12 months, a move widely criticised.
Trump described the tournament as unlike any other, packed with fierce competition and standout moments, and referenced Balogun’s dismissal. He said he contacted Fifa president Gianni Infantino to lodge a complaint, joking about how he framed the request.
He added that he hadn’t known what Fifa would decide but felt the outcome ultimately reduced controversy: Belgium won, the USA had a full squad, and, in his view, Infantino made another strong call even if it wouldn’t be widely credited.
Trump also thanked Infantino and hailed the World Cup across the US, Mexico and Canada as perhaps “the most successful sporting event” ever staged.
Infantino said the tournament had “exceeded expectations”.
He added that the American dream had become reality by uniting the world in the United States, and called it not only the greatest World Cup but the greatest human, social, and cultural event ever, thanking the president for his role.