need to know
England were unable to maintain their lead against Argentina, who had decided to advance to the final tournament against Spain, and were eliminated from the World Cup.
Lionel Messi helped Argentina win, but it wasn’t without controversy (Image: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
World Cup final confirmed, everything you need to know after England lose to Argentina
England were defeated by Argentina in the semi-finals and were eliminated from the World Cup. The Three Lions were led by Anthony Gordon, with Enzo Fernandes and Lautaro Martinez leading the South American team to the final against Spain. Before the match, former England international striker Alan Shearer got into trouble with staff in Atlanta. The Newcastle legend wandered onto the pitch to greet Dan Byrne, who was not authorized to do so. Intense full-time scenes also saw Jude Bellingham slap Valentin Barco. The England midfielder instigated the clash, but Barco had earlier sparked outrage by leaving the substitute bench to celebrate in front of his opponents rather than his team-mates during the match. Bellingham, England’s best player at the tournament, was seen in the stands with his family after the match. The 23-year-old appeared to be in tears as he buried his head in his father’s shoulder. Anger has also been directed at Thomas Tuchel over England’s defensive tactics. BBC pundit Chris Sutton questioned whether the German was the right person to continue in charge of the team, while Wayne Rooney suggested Tuchel would “stand down”. The former England captain said the team had lost confidence following the change of manager. However, the former Chelsea manager is still supported by the FA and has a contract until after Euro 2028. Manager Tuchel also vowed to remain in his role, saying, “I have a contract until the Euros at home and I’m looking forward to that.” The IFAB rulebook states: “Underwear may not be exposed that displays political, religious or personal slogans, statements, images or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo.” “For any violation, the player and/or team will be subject to sanctions by the tournament organizer, national football association or FIFA.” Meanwhile, viewers were unhappy that Lionel Messi was not punished during the match. The talismanic figure caused controversy as he appeared to stomp on Jed Spence during the build-up to Argentina’s second goal, with many complaining that VAR was not used. Many fans who saw the footage online were furious and fueled conspiracy theories about Argentina being given preferential treatment at the World Cup. After England’s first goal, Jordan Pickford committed a despicable act against a supporter by grabbing his private parts. But the keeper had karma and his punishment saw Cristian Romero celebrate on his face after Argentina’s winning goal. Argentina’s stars, including Messi, were also seen laughing after finding Pickford’s water bottle. The match ended in a violent clash, but Marc Guehi wished him luck as he overtook Lionel Messi in the mixed zone. The Manchester City defender made the comments as Messi completed his media duties.
Follow the latest news and impact of England’s World Cup exit: England’s live reaction to World Cup failure vs. Thomas Tuchel heavily criticized in Argentina
