Bellingham and Saka benched as England crash out to Argentina

England 1–2 Argentina, the dream is over

England are out of the World Cup. Argentina took the semi-final 2–1, and your team collapsed the moment they scored (1). Tuchel did not hide from it afterward: "It started right after the goal. That is essentially why we lost. The attitude changed. We dropped deep immediately after our goal, not just after the substitutions" (6). Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke were unused, Argentina's camp were shocked Tuchel left his Arsenal stars on the bench (1).

France on Saturday for third place

Saturday brings the game nobody wants. England face France in the third-place play-off (2). Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konaté, Didier Deschamps has a full deck, though Brice Samba may start in goal and Maxence Lacroix could feature (5). Anthony Gordon is one to watch for England after Tuchel hinted at rotation (5).

Pickford cleared, Neville and Carragher agree

Jordan Pickford took flak after the Argentina loss but the pundits have backed him. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both say Pickford was not at fault (3). Jude Bellingham's reaction on the pitch had sparked the debate, but the verdict is in: the goals were not on your goalkeeper (3).

Tuchel: the blame is mine

Tuchel took the loss on himself without qualification. Harry Kane and Marc Guéhi stood behind him in the mixed zone, and Dan Burn echoed the message, the group is not pointing fingers (6). Gary Lineker noted it was Tuchel's most candid press conference since taking the job (6).

Fan reactions

The mood is raw and the stats are brutal: England remain winless in World Cup knockout matches away from Wembley against Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, and Portugal, a streak stretching back to 1962. Read more on r/worldcup. Jarrell Quansah's two-game ban is getting more attention now, fans argue his absence left England exposed at the back when it mattered most. The Athletic's inside account of the camp, including the tattoo plans Tuchel's squad had for the final, is doing the rounds as a painful what-if.