Jürgen Klopp, former Liverpool manager, strongly defended his compatriot Thomas Tuchel, the England national team coach, after the harsh criticism he faced following the World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina, stressing that the discussions surrounding the match are oversimplified and unfair.

Klopp said in statements reported by "intelregion" that some people treat coaching as if it's a simple choice between attack and defense, emphasizing that the reality of knockout matches is far more complex.

He added: 'People always talk after a match as if coaching is easy, as if you just have to choose between attack or defense. It's not that simple. Football is much more complicated.'

Klopp rejected the logic of analyses that reduce the match to a single tactical decision, noting that coaches face double standards, and pointed out: 'If Tuchel had not tried to control the match and Argentina had come back, the same people would have said: why didn't he defend his lead? In knockout matches, no matter what you do, you will find critics.'

The German coach went beyond the tactical aspect to speak about the strength of the Argentine national team, noting that they possess an exceptional mentality, and explained: 'The Argentine team has a special mindset; it seems as if something great is accompanying them in this tournament, and that is what helped them overcome difficult moments.'

Klopp concluded his remarks saying: 'When you have Lionel Messi, what can you do? He is 39 years old and still the best player in the world. You think you have contained him and done everything perfectly, then he delivers a decisive pass that changes the course of the match. Sometimes matches are decided by greatness, and if you don't understand that, you truly don't understand football.'