# Football Daily | It’s the end of the World Cup as England know it

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/football-daily-its-the-end-of-the-world-cup-as-england-know-it/
- Published: 2026-07-16T13:38:05+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-26T20:13:29+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/16/football-daily-email-gwc-england-argentina
- Topics: Football, Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- 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.

## Summary

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.

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