England crash out in semi-finals again
England's 2026 World Cup dream ended in familiar fashion as they fell to a 2-1 semi-final defeat against Argentina. Despite taking the lead through Jude Bellingham's first-half strike, Thomas Tuchel's side were pegged back by goals from Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, extending the Three Lions' wait for a first major trophy since 1966.
The performance drew immediate comparisons with Gareth Southgate's tenure, as England once again struggled to maintain control against elite opposition. Tuchel, appointed in 2025 to deliver a more proactive brand of football, now faces serious questions about his tactical approach.
Tactical caution costs England
Under Southgate, England were repeatedly criticised for sitting back after taking leads. Against Argentina, history repeated itself. After Bellingham's opener, England dropped deep, inviting pressure that eventually told.
They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than to go for it,
a source close to the camp told BBC Sport. Tuchel's use of substitutes also raised eyebrows, with attacking changes coming too late to reverse the momentum.
Tuchel's England: more of the same?
Tuchel was brought in to break the cycle of near misses. Yet the defeat to Argentina mirrored the 2018 semi-final loss to Croatia and the Euro 2020 final heartbreak. The German's decision to start Declan Rice as a lone holding midfielder left Phil Foden isolated, and England created little after the break.
The result means Argentina will face Spain in the final, while England must settle for a third-place play-off against Brazil. For Tuchel, the inquest will be long and painful.
Key stats
Possession: England 41% – 59% Argentina
Shots on target: England 3 – 7 Argentina
Goal attempts: England 8 – 16 Argentina
Expected goals: England 0.72 – 2.15 Argentina