Nico O’Reilly entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of England’s most highly anticipated young talents, following a string of stellar, breakout performances under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, for Wednesday’s blockbuster semifinal clash against Argentina, the versatile defender has been surprisingly excluded from the starting eleven.
O’Reilly will begin the match on the bench due to a calculated tactical adjustments implemented by head coach Thomas Tuchel. Believing that the Argentine backline is particularly vulnerable to explosive speed out wide, the German manager has opted for a raw, pace-oriented approach on the left flank rather than relying on O’Reilly’s signature technical possession play.
Instead, Tuchel has made the bold decision to slot Djed Spence into the starting lineup at left back, anchoring the opposite flank with Reece James on the right. The Tottenham Hotspur defender clearly made a lasting impression during his recent shift against Norway, where his dynamic overlapping runs nearly won a penalty, and he is now being deployed as a highly aggressive, attacking fullback to exploit Argentina’s defensive spacing.
Prior to today, O’Reilly had featured in every single World Cup match for England, frequently giving way to Spence in the second half as a tactical substitution to inject an explosive X-factor down the flank. The only other game the Manchester City starlet did not start was the group-stage matchup against Ghana, where Tuchel similarly prioritized Spence’s raw speed to overwhelm the opposition while the Three Lions dominated possession.
Nico O’Reilly #3 of England high fives Djed Spence #25 as he is substituted.
*Developing story…
