England captain Harry Kane has vowed that his team will “go away” and “find a way to get better” following their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The Three Lions took the lead just after the break when Anthony Gordon finished off a cross from Morgan Rogers. However, late goals by Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez ended England’s hopes, extending their 60-year wait to lift football’s most prestigious trophy.
In a statement released through his social media channels, Kane admitted that the loss had left him feeling ‘empty’.
“No words are big enough right now to overcome this empty feeling in the stomach,” he wrote. “We were close, really close to another final but it wasn’t enough.”
“We’ve given everything over these last seven weeks and to fall short is hard to take! I know the expectations are high and rightly so. We’ve been knocking on the door for eight years now but again are missing that final piece of the jigsaw!” he continued.
“That’s where we have to go away, process it and find a way to get better. I’m so proud of the boys and what we have shown throughout this tournament – some tough games and tough environments that we have overcome.”
Despite the disappointment, England’s campaign has been memorable, with notable victories over Croatia, DR Congo and Mexico capturing the nation’s imagination.
It remains uncertain whether Kane, now 32, will lead the line for England at Euro 2028. However, his words hinted that he may continue: “Win or lose, we learn and go again.”
He added: “Going for glory doesn’t always mean you will get it. You have to fight for it, get knocked down, pick yourself up and go again. That’s what we will do; there’s no other way but to keep believing and keep pushing.”
“Thank you to every single fan that travelled and showed their support in the stadiums. Thank you to every fan back home for believing in us. Thank you to the boys and staff for everything you have given. As always, win or lose, we learn and go again!”
England will next take to the pitch on Saturday when they face France in the third-place playoff.
