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Bundesliga
England's 2026 World Cup dream is over after Argentina produced a stunning late comeback, scoring twice in the final ten minutes to win 2-1 in the semi-final. Anthony Gordon's opener was not enough as Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez broke English hearts.
England's 2026 FIFA World Cup journey came to a devastating end on Wednesday night as Argentina rallied from behind to win 2-1 in the semi-final, snatching victory with two goals in the final ten minutes. It was the kind of gut-punch defeat that lingers for years, and for Harry Kane and his squad, the questions are already piling up.
For 84 minutes, England looked like a team on the verge of something historic. Then, in a blink, it all fell apart.
The opening 45 minutes were defined by tension rather than quality. England came out with clear intent, and Elliot Anderson was a nuisance throughout, drawing fouls and disrupting Argentina's midfield rhythm. Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, had his moments too, linking play effectively and probing for openings. But for all England's early energy, neither side managed a single shot on target before the break.
It was the kind of half that screams "next goal wins." And for a while, it looked like England had found it.
Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, finishing smartly after a well-delivered cross from Morgan Rogers. It was a moment of genuine quality, the kind of clinical combination play that England have searched for throughout major tournaments.
For the next half hour, England were in control of their own destiny. A World Cup final was within touching distance. But Argentina, as they so often do, had other ideas.
The game turned in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez unleashed a strike from outside the box that flew past the England goalkeeper. It was a goal born of sheer individual brilliance, the type that shifts the entire momentum of a match in an instant.
Argentina poured forward, sensing blood. And in the 93rd minute, Lautaro Martinez delivered the killer blow, finding the net deep into stoppage time. The celebrations on Argentina's bench were euphoric; on England's, there was only disbelief.
England threw on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford in a desperate bid to salvage something, but it was too late. The final whistle confirmed what everyone already knew: Argentina were heading to the final, and England were going home.
In his post-match comments, England captain Harry Kane insisted his team "gave their all" and pointed to the many positive moments throughout the tournament. But the pain was evident.
"We had many good moments in the tournament," Kane said. He also acknowledged that England need to find "that missing piece" to succeed at the highest level. It is a refrain that has become all too familiar for England supporters.
When asked about his participation in the 2030 World Cup, Kane was non-committal: "It's too early to say. I'll take it year by year." At 32, the clock is ticking for the Bayern Munich striker, and there is a real possibility that this was his last World Cup semi-final in an England shirt.
While the result was crushing for England, the 2026 World Cup has been a showcase for Bundesliga talent. Harry Kane was one of the tournament's standout performers, scoring multiple goals for England throughout the competition. His Bayern Munich teammate Michael Olise was equally impressive in a different role, racking up five assists as a creative force for France.
Elsewhere, Deniz Undav of VfB Stuttgart contributed goals and assists in crucial matches, proving his quality at the highest level. Johan Manzambi of Sport-Club Freiburg also made his mark, while Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was instrumental in helping Switzerland reach the quarter-finals.
The narrative writes itself, really. England were the better side for most of the match. They led. They were organised. And yet, when it mattered most, they could not close the door. Argentina's experience at this stage of tournaments told, and England's familiar fragility in crunch moments surfaced once again.
For bettors who backed England to reach the final, this was a painful lesson in late-game volatility. Argentina's quality and composure under pressure made them worthy semi-final winners, and anyone looking ahead to the World Cup final can find the latest odds and match outcome markets on Epicbet.
For the latest World Cup odds and exciting sports betting opportunities, head over to Epicbet.
Jon
