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The Guardian view on England’s World Cup disappointment: a tale of the not wholly unexpected | Editorial
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Yellow card Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
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Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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Goal Anthony GORDON (England) scores!!
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Goal Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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Goal Lautaro MARTINEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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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's football team were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup at the semi-final stage after Argentina fought back from behind to win with a stoppage-time goal, echoing familiar patterns of past tournament exits. The Guardian's editorial reflects on the disappointment as part of a recurring narrative for English football, noting that criticism of manager Thomas Tuchel, whose side retreated defensively in the closing stages, has so far been more measured than previous inquests, such as the vilification David Beckham faced in 1998.
More than 24 million viewers watched as England took an early lead before wilting under Argentinian pressure, a collapse the piece likens to previous semi-final losses to Croatia in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Attention now turns to a Spain-Argentina final likely to feature Lionel Messi's last World Cup appearance, while England, who also enjoyed a memorable win over Mexico at the Azteca stadium, face France in the third-place play-off.
In short
- England lost 2026 World Cup semi-final to Argentina via stoppage-time goal
- Manager Thomas Tuchel criticised for defensive retreat late in the match
- Spain and Argentina, likely Messi's last World Cup, contest the final
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A measured response to Tuchel is justified because England reached the semi-finals, and Argentina’s comeback under pressure does not by itself prove the manager’s approach was misguided. The team’s run included memorable performances, and a familiar pattern of late setbacks may reflect the fine margins of tournament football rather than a single person’s failure.
The case against
Criticism of Tuchel is reasonable because England retreated as Argentina pressed, inviting pressure that culminated in a stoppage-time defeat. Repeated late collapses can suggest more than bad luck: they raise fair questions about tactical decisions, resilience and whether the team learned from earlier tournament exits.
Explained simply
The FIFA World Cup is the world's biggest international football tournament, held every four years, where nations compete for the sport's most prestigious trophy. England are one of the world's strongest football nations and major tournament contenders, making their World Cup performance a matter of significant national interest.
England won the World Cup in 1966 but have not won it again since, despite having many capable teams throughout the decades. The nation has experienced repeated disappointments in major tournaments recently, a pattern that has become familiar to supporters and shaped expectations.
The World Cup carries particular importance in England given the country's football heritage and the nation's historically strong status in the sport. Thomas Tuchel manages the England squad, and the team's tournament performance is widely discussed and scrutinised by the public and media.