Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Marc Guehi, and Dan Burn react after England lose the 2026 World Cup semi final to Argentina.
The first half saw minimal chances, 19 fouls, pushing and shoving, two yellow cards, stop start play, and no shots on target.
Then the second half became more lively. The Three Lions going ahead on 55 minutes, Anthony Gordon there at the back-post, getting on the end of Morgan Rogers’ cross.
After taking the lead, Argentina turned the pressure on, and it was only a matter of time before they were going to score in truth.
Djed Spence impressed with a sliding tackle on Giuliano Simeone to deny a dangerous scoring opportunity for Argentina. There were some impressive saves from Pickford too.
On the 76th minute, Argentina’s Mac Allister saw his header from De Paul’s cross come back off the post, then 10 minutes later, Enzo Fernandez produced a stunning leveller from distance.
Two minutes into the nine added on, Argentina completed the turnaround thanks to Lautaro Martinez’s header.
We are completely heartbroken that our dream ends here, but so proud of this group, our staff and you – our amazing fans.
Your support in North America and back home has been nothing short of incredible. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/06KEKKUaLh
— England (@England) July 15, 2026
STATS (as per Sky Sports:
PossessionEngland: 35.8%Argentina: 64.2%
ShotsEngland: 5Argentina: 15
Shots on targetEngland: 2Argentina: 5
Big chances missedEngland: 0Argentina: 2
CornersEngland: 1Argentina: 6
Accurate passesEngland: 273Argentina: 537
Passing accuracyEngland: 84%Argentina: 91.3%
Yellow cardsEngland: 1Argentina: 3
Red cardsEngland: 0Argentina: 0
ShotsEngland: 5Argentina: 15
Shots on targetEngland: 2Argentina: 5
Shots off targetEngland: 1Argentina: 7
Hit woodworkEngland: 0Argentina: 2
Shots blockedEngland: 2Argentina: 3
Big chances missedEngland: 0Argentina: 2
Touches opp. boxEngland: 7Argentina: 28
CornersEngland: 1Argentina: 6
Caught offsideEngland: 1Argentina: 3
Goalkeeper savesEngland: 3Argentina: 1
Attempted tacklesEngland: 15Argentina: 20
Succesful tacklesEngland: 9Argentina: 9
Tackle successEngland: 60%Argentina: 45%
RecoveriesEngland: 27Argentina: 33
InterceptionsEngland: 9Argentina: 6
BlocksEngland: 3Argentina: 2
Crosses blockedEngland: 3Argentina: 1
ClearancesEngland: 27Argentina: 31
Headed clearancesEngland: 14Argentina: 18
Attempted passesEngland: 325Argentina: 588
Accurate passesEngland: 273Argentina: 537
Passing accuracyEngland: 84%Argentina: 91.3%
Chances createdEngland: 4Argentina: 13
Attempted crossesEngland: 16Argentina: 20
Accurate crossesEngland: 3Argentina: 6
Crossing accuracyEngland: 18.8%Argentina: 30%
Duels wonEngland: 50Argentina: 52
Duel successEngland: 49%Argentina: 51%
Ground duels wonEngland: 37Argentina: 43
Ground duels successEngland: 46.3%Argentina: 53.8%
Aerial duels wonEngland: 13Argentina: 9
Aerial duel successEngland: 59.1%Argentina: 40.9%
Attempted dribblesEngland: 19Argentina: 16
Successful dribblesEngland: 7Argentina: 13
Dribble successEngland: 36.8%Argentina: 81.3%
Fouls concededEngland: 11Argentina: 15
Fouls wonEngland: 15Argentina: 11
Yellow cardsEngland: 1Argentina: 3
Red cardsEngland: 0Argentina: 0
England boss Thomas Tuchel, who retains FA backing despite defeat, said after the game, as per englandfootball.com:
“The team gave everything and we were very close.
“We deserved to be up 1-0. We played one of our better matches, maybe the best match in the circumstances. The team was top, we couldn’t bring it over the line. No regrets.
“We saw the mentality throughout the match and the strong group. We played the matches how they were, we played against strong teams.
“We played a lot of miles, a lot of travelling. We played at altitude, we played with 10 men, we played in the heat.
“We overcame every obstacle, we came very very close today. It is not the moment now to analyse the full tournament, we just went out now because we lost a crucial match.
“We were so close but we got too passive after we scored. We conceded a lot of chances and we could not turn the ball possession around.
“We conceded so, so many crosses and chances and shots. We were close but we couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.
“We conceded [chances] straight away, we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open.
“They won every header, they kept crossing and crossing so we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be strong in the air because straight after our goal with no substitutions, we just conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances.
“It doesn’t help if you don’t have the ball. We couldn’t get out. Of course we wanted to go for the second goal but I had the feeling it was not a substitution that would help.
“We stayed in our 4-4-2 but we became passive, we couldn’t win any balls. So I think it was not a structure problem.”
On intending to stay, having signed a a two-year contract extension in February: “We keep on going with the contract until the home Euros.
“I’m looking forward to that even though right now it’s difficult to look that far ahead.
“A lot of big football nations are eliminated before the semi-final, so it is an achievement.
“No-one wants to hear that at the moment; me neither because we demand the most of ourselves. That’s just the nature of being competitive.”
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said, as per BBC Sport: “It is heartbreaking to be so close.
“The players and Thomas gave it everything today and the squad, coaches and staff could not have worked harder during the tournament.
“I would like to thank them all – and also give my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful fans here in the USA and at home.”
“To fall short like we did today is just gutting.” 💔
England captain Harry Kane praises the “blood, sweat and tears” of his team after their World Cup semi-final defeat. pic.twitter.com/R1TyY9CnlP
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026
England’s Harry Kane said, as per englandfootball.com: “I’m just gutted. Gutted for the boys, gutted for everyone. The England staff, the fans.
“We played a good game for the large majority of it. When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on which at this level isn’t enough.
“Just gutted because we have worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears. To fall short like we did today is just gutting.
“We struggled to get pressure on the ball. First half and start of the second half we pressed them well. We put them under loads of pressure, especially high up the pitch which allowed us to win balls, control the game a little bit better.
“After the goal, whether that was them putting more players forward or us not being able to match them man for man. It was just wave after wave and we were trying to hold on. Lads were putting blocks in but in the end it wasn’t enough.
“The boys are always ready for any moment in the game. When we went ahead, the messaging was to go again and get another goal.
“Then obviously when they scored their two goals, trying to get something but we couldn’t quite get the momentum back in the game.
“We had a lot of good moments in this tournament, a lot of good games, another semi-final.
“We talk about knocking on the door, we are close. We just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.
“These tournaments take it out of you, so much effort, pressure and mentality and we have shown a lot of that the 6-7 weeks we have been together, but we are just missing that final piece.”
Dan Burn said, as per ESPN: “I think when you come within sort of 10-15 minutes of a World Cup final and then don’t get it done, it hurts.
“Obviously, I’m very gutted right now, but I’m so proud of what the team has done.
“We don’t even think anyone gave us a chance coming into this.
“The brotherhood that we spoke about just took us a long way, and if I’m being honest, I thought we’d do it.
“I just had that feeling that this was our time, but I think Argentina showed why they’re world champions and they’ve been there and they’ve done it.
“I thought that we nailed the game plan up until we scored. I thought we did really well.
“We knew what Argentina were going to do, and I thought we dealt with it pretty well.
“And then we got a little bit passive after the goal. Defended probably a little bit too deep and the quality of chances that Argentina were creating, I thought it felt like it was a matter of time.
“I think we conceded too many crosses and too many chances, and I think it’s hard because in the previous games we’ve defended those so well.
“So, I don’t think that we can take massive criticism for going into that.
“I think when we’re in 4-4-2 defending, we were conceding a lot of chances. So something had to change, and as I said, we’ve been pretty solid when we were a back five in the previous few games.
“I think the manager may want to have done something in hindsight, but also from the players, we’ve taken responsibility to get through.
“We’ve been 10-15 minutes away from the World Cup final, we really probably should see it out.”
Jude Bellingham: “I think we can take a lot of experience from this, but it is so gutting. I wanted to be a part of an England squad that finally done it and got it over the line. To be here, telling the fans the same things they’ve heard for years, it’s really gutting.
“I wish I could give one more win or two more wins, but at the moment, my head is a bit fuzzy with disappointment, so I’m sorry.”
Marc Guehi said, as per BBC Sport: “We should have carried on pushing. it kind of felt like we scored and then the mentality was go back, defend. So yeah.”
He was asked on England getting so close in recent years and if he has belief that this is the group that can finally win silverware for England.
Guehi replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know, it’s hard to think about the future right now. At this moment it’s just disappointment. That’s all.”
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