There is something almost poetic — and painful — about the way England keep arriving at the door of greatness only to find it locked. The World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta felt like a chapter ripped from a book that never seems to end differently.
Thomas Tuchel's side showed plenty of the things England fans have come to expect over the years: heart, resilience, the ability to produce individual moments of brilliance. What they could not produce, when the stakes were highest, was the quality and composure to see a game out.
England led Argentina 1-0 through Anthony Gordon's goal on the hour mark. What followed told you everything about where this squad currently stands. They retreated. They sat back. They handed Lionel Messi the wheel — and he drove straight through them.
The Possession Problem Nobody Wants to Confront
Between Gordon's 55th-minute strike and Lautaro Martinez's injury-time winner for Argentina, England held just 12 per cent of the ball. Twelve per cent. That is not a defensive game plan — that is a collapse of confidence so total it became self-fulfilling.
Tuchel had spoken candidly after the quarter-final win over Norway about England's limitations. "It's maybe not in our DNA," he admitted, talking about the ability to control possession and dictate tempo, "like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA." It turned out to be a prophecy. A side that cannot keep the ball cannot keep a lead.
Kane and Bellingham Cannot Do It Alone
England's campaign has been built almost entirely on two men. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have between them scored 12 of England's 14 goals at this tournament — six each. They are genuinely world class and they have carried this team through moments where lesser players would have crumbled.
But a team built on bursts of individual genius is always one quiet night away from disaster. When Argentina shifted Messi wide right and gave him space, England had no answer. The entire England squad completed seven successful dribbles over 90 minutes. Messi managed nine on his own in less than 40 minutes.
The absences of a fully fit Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka — both dogged by illness and injury during the tournament — hurt Tuchel more than he was willing to publicly admit. John Stones, 32 and now a free agent, is still a commanding presence but cannot anchor England's future indefinitely.
The Selection Calls That Will Be Questioned
Tuchel made some bold choices ahead of this summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out entirely. Cole Palmer and Phil Foden were absent. Morgan Gibbs-White, after a standout season at Nottingham Forest, was overlooked. Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton — composed, technically sharp and capable of controlling games with his passing range — was barely utilised despite those qualities being exactly what England lacked in Atlanta.
The Football Association retain their faith in Tuchel. But the questions need to be honest ones. The German was brought in to end the cycle of near-misses, to be the elite tactical mind that would make the difference in the big moments. When England were ahead and needed to be brave, their head coach chose to retreat. The result was familiar.
Euro 2028 and the Road Ahead
Qualifying for Euro 2028 will begin soon, and England will need to find real answers fast. Kane, Bellingham, Rice and Saka will still be in or near their prime. The support around them needs genuine strengthening — not just in personnel, but in identity and tactical clarity.
England need to know who they are when the pressure comes. Right now, when it arrives, they still seem to be figuring that out. Sixty years of hurt — and the questions remain exactly the same.
Source: BBC Sport | Updated July 17, 2026
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