England fall to Argentina and the wait goes on

England out after late collapse

England 1–2 Argentina. A World Cup semi-final decided in the final minutes, and your team are going home. Harry Kane had put England ahead, but Argentina struck twice late to break hearts and reach the final (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7). Sixty years of waiting goes on (11).

Kane: I'm not done

Harry Kane will not walk away. The England captain addressed retirement speculation directly after the defeat. "Playing for England means more to me than anything else," Kane said, adding he will "never put a limit" on his international career and wants to play at the 2030 World Cup (1). He would be 36.

Tuchel's moves under fire

Thomas Tuchel's second-half substitutions left observers stunned. German World Cup winner Thomas Müller did not hold back: "I cannot believe how England approached this game after taking the lead. I cannot understand how they allowed Argentina to swing in cross after cross from ideal positions" (9) (14). Bastian Schweinsteiger had similar questions, and the German press described the switches as "cowardly" (2) (10).

FA backs Tuchel anyway

The Football Association is standing by Thomas Tuchel despite the semi-final exit. He retains full backing and will lead England forward (13). No knee-jerk reaction from the boardroom.

Burn: this will hurt for a long time

Dan Burn did not sugarcoat it. "Defeat will haunt England for a long time," the defender said after the 1–2 loss to Argentina (12). The pain is raw, and Burn's words captured the mood.

Fan reactions

The mood among England supporters is grim and divided. Many are directing their anger at Tuchel's second-half substitutions, with fans sharing a brutal stat: England completed only two successful passes in an 18-minute stretch between the 66th and 85th minute. Messi's nine dribbles, a single-match high for this World Cup, has only deepened the sense that Argentina ran the game when it mattered. Read the full discussion.