World Cup 2026: Argentina break England hearts and head for final with Spain – live

⚽ All the latest in the aftermath from dramatic day in Atlanta
⚽ England 1-2 Argentina | Player guide | Golden Boot | Mail us

The England captain had little influence on the game against Argentina and fell well short of his usual high standards. Barney Ronay pulled no punches in saying, “Harry Kane basically did some light cardio quite close to a World Cup semi-final”.

Kane then had to try to find the words to explain the defeat and the heartbreak that the players and England camp were feeling in the immediate aftermath, saying: “I think there’s not much to say. For now, everyone has to process what’s just happened.”

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Well, not to this lot anyway. On a day of ceaseless rolling noise under Atlanta’s vast refrigerated dome, England reached the end of the road, the end of their own capacities at this World Cup, the end of the gears within this team. Mainly they ran into Lionel Messi, who wasn’t ready to be done just yet. Not like this anyway.

With 55 minutes gone England were actually winning this game, 1-0 up thanks to Anthony Gordon’s goal, the only real moment of clarity they produced all match. At which point they simply disappeared as an animate entity from the stage.