DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

England faltered once more on the global stage. The Three Lions looked to be heading for their first World Cup final since 1966, holding a deserved 1-0 lead over Argentina for nearly 80 minutes. Yet, due largely to manager Thomas Tuchel’s decisions, the dream slipped away in the closing moments.

After taking off goal-scorer Anthony Gordon for Ezri Konsa, Tuchel introduced two additional defenders to protect the slender advantage. England sat deep, trying to contain Lionel Messi – still the world’s most gifted creator – and hoped to survive. Their prayers went unanswered.

Argentina again summoned the aura of destiny that has surrounded them throughout this tournament, striking twice in the final five minutes to hand England yet another devastating defeat in a match they could, and perhaps should, have won.

“We were just not active enough in any structure,” Tuchel admitted afterwards. “We didn’t find any duels, any activity, we couldn’t get close anymore. We struggled to defend crosses.”

Before kick-off, much of the discussion focused on the rivalry between the two nations and how it might overshadow the football. Indeed, for the first 30 minutes neither side registered a shot, with Argentina appearing more eager to dominate physically than to create chances.

The match came alive ten minutes into the second half when Gordon converted Morgan Rogers’ cross, giving England the lead they had worked for. From that point, they could have controlled proceedings. It was an opportunity to assert themselves over a beatable opponent.

Instead, England retreated. Tuchel’s men dropped too deep even before he switched to the back five that had served them well against Mexico at the Azteca. This time, however, they could not withstand the pressure. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez both scored from Messi assists, maintaining Argentina’s flawless record in World Cup semi-finals.

At the final whistle, England’s players stood motionless, offering half-hearted applause to their supporters as another chance at immortality faded. They had only themselves to blame.

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WINNER: Lionel Messi

For most of the match, Lionel Messi was quiet. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner floated on the fringes of play, producing only a few clever touches and drawing one rough foul from Elliot Anderson. Otherwise, England kept him subdued.

But when England retreated into their shell, they gave Messi the room he needed. He began to find pockets of space near the box, dictating play with his trademark precision. In such moments, Messi thrives – and he did so again here.

His first assist came from instinct: a perfectly weighted pass to Fernandez at the top of the area. His second was vintage Messi – a deft drop of the shoulder, a burst of pace, and a floated right-footed cross that Martinez nodded in.

“He’s obviously one of the best players ever for a reason,” said Harry Kane. “It was disappointing to give up the space that we did. In those final 20 minutes, it allowed not just him but other players to grow into the game and get into dangerous areas. In the end, it was too much for us.”

This could well be Messi’s final major tournament. At 39, he has little left to prove in an Argentina shirt. Yet once again, he delivered when it mattered – and now he has one more chance for glory, against Spain in Sunday’s final.

LOSER: Thomas Tuchel

Once again, England collapsed when it mattered most. Tuchel was hired to change that narrative – the supposed tournament master who would bring composure under pressure.

Instead, he too succumbed to England’s old frailties. There’s nothing inherently wrong with defending a lead, but Tuchel’s decision to go defensive so early proved fatal. The timing was all wrong.

His first defensive switch came in the 72nd minute when Gordon made way for Konsa and England reverted to a back five, though they were already deep by then. Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly followed ten minutes later.

Argentina dominated, enjoying 88 percent of possession between Gordon’s goal and Lautaro’s header. England’s resistance was always going to break.

“I believe that’s just the nature of the game,” Tuchel said. “As soon as you lose, you get criticised... I take the criticism, that’s just the way it is.”

The Football Association reportedly intends to keep Tuchel until Euro 2028, but it’s clear he must shoulder much of the blame for this painful exit.

WINNER: Lionel Scaloni

While Tuchel grew cautious, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni doubled down on attack. Leandro Paredes had been among his best performers, yet Scaloni replaced him with the more offensive Nico Gonzalez. Rodrigo De Paul was introduced to exploit England’s vulnerable left side.

“There was blood in the water, and we went for it,” Scaloni said after the match.

Argentina’s philosophy is simple: get the ball to Messi. The system around him, however, is fluid. Scaloni’s men play for their captain, willing to sacrifice structure for belief. Since taking charge before the 2021 Copa America, Scaloni has guided Argentina to three trophies – and now stands one win away from a fourth.

“It shows the brotherhood we share,” he said. “We fight to the very end. We know how special this team is.”

LOSER: Harry Kane

This was not Harry Kane’s night. Despite scoring over 70 goals for club and country this season, the England captain struggled to influence the game. Forced into deeper positions, he became entangled in midfield battles rather than leading the line.

Kane managed just one blocked long-range effort and only 26 touches – none inside Argentina’s box. With Euro 2028 on home soil potentially marking the twilight of his international career, this defeat feels like a missed opportunity for the 32-year-old Bayern Munich striker.

He might still feature in Saturday’s bronze-medal match against France, possibly staying in contention for the Golden Boot. But his hopes of a Ballon d’Or now appear to have faded, with Messi and young star Lamine Yamal vying for the Golden Ball should their sides triumph in the final.

WINNER: Argentina’s tournament destiny

Argentina’s march to the final has been marked by resilience and belief. They edged past Cape Verde and Switzerland in extra time, and came from behind to beat both Egypt and England. Scaloni spoke again of fate and conviction – themes that have defined his tenure.

In Qatar, Argentina twice squandered two-goal leads but prevailed on penalties, including in the final against France. Lautaro’s decisive goal in the 2024 Copa America final also came deep into extra time. This is a team that believes its way to victory, and that faith could carry them past Spain on Sunday.

LOSER: England’s inferiority complex

Tuchel was brought in for his realism and tactical nous, but even he couldn’t escape England’s deep-seated psychological struggles. After conceding, Argentina played with renewed freedom – and England, once again, wilted.

“It’s a similar story to previous tournaments,” Kane admitted. “We struggled to keep the momentum. We scored, we deserved to be ahead, but for one reason or another, we couldn’t keep the ball.”

It’s a pattern that has haunted England for decades. Since 1998, they’ve faced top-10 ranked teams seven times at World Cups – and lost every one. Whether in Euro 2024, Euro 2021, or the 2018 World Cup, England have repeatedly taken the lead only to fall short. Wednesday’s loss was another chapter in that painful saga.

Tuchel’s choices undoubtedly contributed to their downfall, but the deeper issue remains: an ingrained inferiority complex that no manager has yet managed to cure.