Key Takeaways
- England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final after conceding two late goals.
- Harry Kane said his team tried hard but ultimately fell short.
- The loss means England will not reach a World Cup final since 1966.
England’s captain Harry Kane admitted that his side's hopes of reaching the World Cup final were dashed after conceding two late goals to Argentina in their semi-final match on Wednesday. The defeat, which came despite England taking an early lead through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal, leaves them without a place in the final since 1966.
Speaking to the BBC, Kane reflected on his team’s performance, saying, 'We played a good game for the large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on.' He added, 'At this level, it's not enough, so just gutted, gutted because we've worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is.'
The match saw Argentina dominate in the second half, with Enzo Fernandez scoring an equaliser and Lautaro Martinez netting the winner in added time. Kane acknowledged that his team faced significant pressure: 'After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us just not being able to match them man for man, it just was wave after wave and we were trying to hold on as we were putting blocks in.'
Despite the setback, Kane remained optimistic about future prospects. He stated, 'We had a lot of good moments in this tournament. A lot of good games, another semi-final. We talk about knocking on the door. We're close, we just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.'
The loss leaves England with a sense of unfinished business as they reflect on their performance and the missed opportunity. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s side had shown promise throughout the tournament but ultimately could not overcome the pressure from Argentina.
Kane's comments highlight the disappointment felt by the team, the staff, and the fans who have supported them through this challenging campaign. The captain emphasized the collective effort: 'The boys are always ready for any moment in the game. When we went ahead, the messaging was to go again and get another goal.'
With Argentina advancing to face France or Morocco in the final, England will now focus on their upcoming friendly matches as they prepare for the next World Cup cycle.
We played a good game for the large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on.
Harry Kane, England's captain
At this level, it's not enough, so just gutted, gutted because we've worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is.
Harry Kane, England's captain
