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Football Daily | It’s the end of the World Cup as England know it
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37'
Yellow card Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
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42'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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51'
Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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55'
Goal Anthony GORDON (England) scores!!
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85'
Goal Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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90'+2'
Goal Lautaro MARTINEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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90'+4'
Yellow card Rodrigo DE PAUL (Argentina) is booked
England squad
- Selected
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE C Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
- Full squad
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
England's men suffered a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the "Geopolitics World Cup", extending the national team's history of falling short at the business end of major tournaments under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Argentina's world-class attacking talents, including Alexis Mac Allister, Lautaro Martínez and Enzo Fernández, proved too strong in the closing stages, overwhelming England's back line with aerial threats after Anthony Gordon had briefly given the Three Lions hope.
Goals from Fernández and Martínez put Argentina ahead before Gordon pulled one back with a finish from Morgan Rogers' cross, only for England to be pinned back in their own penalty area for the remainder of the match. Tuchel rejected suggestions of a recurring English "curse", while Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said his side sensed weakness and pushed for more goals. Argentina now have three days to prepare for the final against Spain, while England face France, with Kylian Mbappé looming as a threat, in the third-place play-off.
In short
- England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
- Argentina's stars overwhelmed England late in the game.
- England now face France in the third-place match; Argentina meet Spain in the final.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
England's repeated pattern of reaching semi-finals and finals across multiple tournaments whilst rarely winning suggests genuine systemic issues rather than mere coincidence. This might reflect psychological pressure particular to English football culture, tactical inflexibility, or squad construction gaps. Recognising this pattern—rather than dismissing it as superstition—helps identify what genuinely needs to change.
The case against
Calling it a 'curse' is pseudoscientific thinking that obscures clear analysis. Most international teams fail at tournaments; England's record of consistently reaching latter stages actually reflects relative strength, not failure. Each tournament involves different players and circumstances that cannot be meaningfully compared across decades. Better progress comes from focusing on tangible improvements—tactics, player development, mental preparation—than invoking mystical patterns that invite fatalism.
Explained simply
England's men's national football team is competing in the Geopolitics World Cup, a major international tournament, under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel was appointed recently with hopes of breaking England's pattern of underperforming in major competitions.
English football has a history of falling short at the crucial stages of international tournaments, despite having talented players available. This pattern has been a persistent concern and has prompted managerial changes over the years.
Argentina is one of the world's strongest football nations with a well-established tradition of developing attacking talent. The team is recognised internationally for the quality of its players in attacking positions.