England’s World Cup journey concludes with semi-final exit
England captain Harry Kane has expressed that the team is “missing that final piece of the jigsaw” following their World Cup 2026 semi-final defeat to Argentina. The match in Atlanta saw England take an early lead but ultimately lose 2-1, a result that has led to scrutiny of the team’s approach and manager Thomas Tuchel‘s tactics.
Anthony Gordon scored for England in the 55th minute, but the team subsequently adopted a more defensive posture, inviting pressure from Argentina. This led to two late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, securing Argentina‘s 2-1 victory. Former England captain Wayne Rooney commented that Tuchel‘s side “crumbled” and became “too passive” after going ahead.
Kane shared his sentiments on social media, stating, “No words are big enough right now to overcome this empty feeling in the stomach.” He acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the team, noting that they have been “knocking on the door for eight years now but again are missing that final piece of the jigsaw!” He emphasised the need to “process it and find a way to get better.”
The defeat marks another instance where England has been criticised for becoming overly defensive in crucial matches. Similar situations occurred under former manager Gareth Southgate, including the Euro 2021 final against Italy, a World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia in 2018, and a defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Data indicates that since 1998, England has been eliminated whenever they have faced a top-10 ranked nation in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Manager Tuchel defends tactical approach
Manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical decisions, asserting that it was never the plan to drop deeper after scoring. He suggested that it might not be in England‘s “DNA” to control the game and possession in the same way as some other nations. Tuchel has faced criticism for his substitutions, particularly after England‘s possession dropped significantly following their goal against Argentina.
Despite the backlash, Tuchel has affirmed his “100 per cent” commitment to his role as England boss leading into the Euro 2028 tournament. The Football Association had appointed Tuchel in October 2024 with the aim of winning the World Cup 2026, having previously sought Pep Guardiola. There were clauses in Tuchel‘s contract that would have allowed for an early termination if England had exited before the quarter-finals, but his position is understood to be secure.
Tuchel‘s strategy for the World Cup squad focused on building a ‘Team England’ with a strong ‘brotherhood’ among players, prioritising commitment and a clear role within his 4-2-3-1 system. This approach led to the exclusion of some prominent players like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire. He also opted not to include midfielders Adam Wharton or Morgan Gibbs-White, despite their recent performances in the Premier League.
The manager also highlighted the physical toll of the tournament, noting that England covered more air miles than any other team and played in challenging conditions, including heat and altitude. He believes these factors contributed to the team’s struggles.
Looking ahead to Euro 2028
Following the semi-final exit, England will now participate in a third-place play-off match against France on Saturday. France was defeated by Spain in the other semi-final. This match is a repeat of a similar situation eight years ago under Tuchel‘s predecessor, Gareth Southgate.
Jude Bellingham, who also scored six goals during the tournament, echoed Kane‘s sentiments, expressing his difficulty in finding the right words after the defeat. He shared a poem, ‘The Lions Way’, written by the team’s driver, and called for “unity” among supporters, stating, “Don’t let the unity and love we’ve seen in our country end with this campaign. When we’re together we can achieve big things.”
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers and Barcelona player Anthony Gordon both expressed their devastation, with Gordon adding, “I genuinely thought this was our time to win after waiting so many years but it wasn’t to be and it’s going to hurt for a while.”
The chief executive of the Football Association, Mark Bullingham, has backed England to learn from this defeat and “challenge for silverware” at the European Championships in 2028, which England will co-host alongside Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland. Bullingham anticipates that Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff will “raise everyone” for the upcoming tournament.
Tuchel remains optimistic about the team’s potential, stating, “I still think we can impose ourselves more on the ball, I still think we can still show how good football players we are.” He believes there is an “extra level that we need to conquer” to achieve a major prize. The FA‘s 2014 ‘DNA’ philosophy, which aimed to develop technically gifted and tactically intelligent players from youth levels, has been brought into question following Tuchel‘s comments about England‘s struggle with possession.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”