England conceded two goals in the final five minutes of their game against Argentina in Atlanta, ruining their chance to reach their first World Cup final since 1966.
Thomas Tuchel’s defensive changes cost England vs Argentina (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Just when England seemed to have finally overcome all the adversity they had faced, they decided to abandon everything they had worked so hard for.
Sixty years of pain resounds, and now it’s scary to think when the rawness of this heart-breaking defeat will subside. It doesn’t sting. I’m in a state of numbness and disbelief at what happened in the last 15 minutes, including stoppage time. If England had surrendered any further, they would have camped in the lobby of the nearby World of Coca-Cola Museum.
There is no escaping the fact that the blame lies with Thomas Tuchel. Although some aspects of his lineup were questionable, a series of defensive changes appeared to pay off before leading to a lot of pressure. That may have worked against Mexico, but Argentina is a different story.
Giving Lionel Messi time and space to work his magic was inviting trouble. And it was proven.
Since 1998, England have lost every time they have faced a top-10 ranked country in the World Cup finals. But if you are going to lose, fight with a shield instead of giving victory to your opponent.
Early information suggested England were outnumbered in Atlanta, but they were comfortable for most of the 70 minutes.
This was supposed to be a World Cup that sacrificed supporters who were passionate about the game. But if anything, this tournament only highlighted the absurd lengths to which punters are prepared to chase the Three Lions.
The last five weeks have captivated the nation and are a testament to England’s courage and hard work, giving people (sometimes 120 people) a chance to escape hardship for 90 minutes. It’s hard to shake the feeling that the disastrous final against Argentina overshadowed all that.
Running long distances was Tuchel’s main goal. That’s exactly why he was brought in to steer the ship, but he wasn’t good enough.
England manager Thomas Tuchel leaves the pitch with Koby Mainu, who was unable to take a single kick (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
There is something to be said for building a team that gives the masses a sense of belonging, but this was not an advertisement for character or the importance of being bold and resolute.
Cynics will be quick to remind you that football is purely about glory, but the memories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that magical night at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca and the resilience that defeated Norway in the scorching heat of Miami will endure once the dust settles.
These games were still fulfilling and should not be taken for granted, given that four-time champions Italy failed to even qualify, Germany and the Netherlands suffered disastrous defeats, and Don Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded Brazil and Portugal were eliminated in the round of 16.
Still, don’t get me wrong, this was still a wasted glorious opportunity. England had always been tipped as one of the top four favorites to win the competition, but excitement was dampened by Tuchel’s squad selection and the absence of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White, even weeks before the crucial kick-off. I was worried that the handbrake would be applied, but that was not the case on this electric roller coaster trip.
Until now. That’s because Tuchel has chosen to tread carefully.
The World Cup is also a vehicle for that. It’s about feeling a nervous glimmer of hope in the pit of your stomach and waking up mentally exhausted, wondering if this was all a dream.
But for England, that road always seems to end in heartbreak.
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