adminEngland’s World Cup dream came to a heartbreaking end as they surrendered a lead to lose to Argentina, who now advance to face Spain in the final.
The Three Lions looked on course for victory after Anthony Gordon put them ahead, but second-half strikes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez turned the tide and sent the South Americans through.
Before kick-off, Alan Shearer found himself in hot water with Atlanta staff after the former England striker wandered onto the pitch to greet Dan Burn without permission.
At the final whistle, tensions boiled over as Jude Bellingham was seen slapping Valentín Barco. The England midfielder sparked the altercation, though Barco had already provoked fury earlier by leaving the bench to celebrate in front of the opposition rather than with his own teammates during the game.
Bellingham, who had been England’s standout performer throughout the tournament, was later spotted in the stands with his family, appearing to fight back tears as he rested his head on his father’s shoulder.
Criticism has also been aimed at manager Thomas Tuchel over his defensive approach. BBC pundit Chris Sutton questioned whether the German is the right man to continue leading the side, while Wayne Rooney suggested Tuchel had “surrendered,” claiming his substitutions drained the team’s confidence.
Despite the backlash, Tuchel retains the FA’s support and is under contract until after Euro 2028. The former Chelsea boss reaffirmed his commitment, saying: “I have a contract until the home Euros and I’m looking forward to that—even if it’s hard to see that far ahead right now.”
Argentina could face disciplinary action after unveiling a banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine” following their semifinal win. FIFA regulations prohibit political, religious, or personal messages on equipment or undergarments, with sanctions possible for any violations.
Meanwhile, viewers were left frustrated that Lionel Messi escaped punishment during the match. The Argentine icon appeared to stamp on Djed Spence in the buildup to his side’s second goal, with many questioning why VAR did not intervene. The incident fueled online conspiracy theories that Argentina are receiving preferential treatment.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also courted controversy, making a crude gesture toward fans after his team’s opener. However, there was a swift dose of karma when Cristian Romero celebrated Argentina’s winner directly in Pickford’s face.
Adding to the drama, Argentina’s players—including Messi—were seen laughing after discovering notes on Pickford’s water bottle, which contained penalty shootout instructions.
Despite the heated scenes at full-time, there was a moment of sportsmanship as Marc Guéhi wished Messi well while passing him in the mixed zone, offering a respectful word as the Argentine star completed his media duties.
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