England captain Harry Kane expressed his "gutted" feelings after their World Cup hopes were dashed by a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. England took a 55th-minute lead through Anthony Gordon, but Argentina staged a late comeback with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.

Kane admitted that trying to hold onto the 1-0 lead was insufficient at this level. He felt the team became too passive after scoring, inviting pressure that Argentina ultimately capitalized on. Manager Thomas Tuchel also described England as "too passive" after going ahead, though he maintained he had "no regrets" over his tactical decisions.

Pundits like Gary Neville and Paul Merson criticized England's mentality and tactical approach, with some calling it a "coaching catastrophe." Despite the disappointment, Kane believes England is close to finding the "missing piece" to succeed in future tournaments, while Tuchel emphasized that the team gave their all and were "very, very close" to reaching the final.