Five reasons for England to be cheerful despite World Cup exit

England

England may have fallen short in the World Cup semi-finals again, but BBC Sport outlines five reasons to be cheerful. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham b...

90min.footballAI-assisted reporting

17 July 2026, 14:01 UTC2 min read

In short

England may have fallen short in the World Cup semi-finals again, but BBC Sport outlines five reasons to be cheerful. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both scored six goals, keeping the Golden Boot dream alive. Reaching consecutive semi-finals underlines consistent progress, while a hard-fought win over Mexico in tough conditions highlights the team's resilience. These positives point to a bright future for the Three Lions.

Another semi-final heartbreak is hard to take, but BBC Sport's Katharine Sharpe has identified five reasons for England fans to look forward with optimism after their World Cup exit. Here are the key positives.

Kane and Bellingham's Golden Boot chase

Having two players tied on six goals apiece is a rare luxury. Harry Kane arrived in fine form after a prolific season with Bayern Munich and delivered a brace in the opener against Croatia before adding four more. Jude Bellingham, recovering from shoulder surgery at Real Madrid, matched Kane's tally and rescued England with crucial doubles against DR Congo and Norway. With one game left, either could still snatch the Golden Boot.

Semi-final specialists

Reaching the last four may now feel like a minimum expectation, but it underlines remarkable consistency. Before 2018, England hadn't gone beyond the quarter-finals since 1990. Now, semi-final appearances in three of the last four World Cups and two European Championship finals represent an era of sustained competitiveness that was unimaginable a decade ago.

Conquering tough conditions

From the stifling heat and humidity of Miami to the altitude and hostile atmosphere of Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, England proved they can cope with adversity. The 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico—a team with a formidable home record—showed mental and physical resilience that bodes well for future tournaments on unfamiliar territory.

While the ultimate prize remains elusive, the broader picture is one of a team consistently competing at the sharp end of major tournaments with world-class talent and a hardened mentality.