England captain Harry Kane laments empty feeling after semi‑final loss
England were eliminated 2‑1 by Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi‑final in Atlanta, ending their hopes of a second final appearance. Captain Harry Kane posted on X that "no words are big enough" to ease the "empty feeling in the stomach" and said the side had been "really close, really close to another final but it wasn’t enough". He added that England have been “knocking on the door for eight years” and are “missing that final piece of the jigsaw”, pledging that the squad will process the disappointment, learn and improve.
Other England players also expressed their reactions. Anthony Gordon recalled the devastation of the loss, while Reece James and other teammates thanked fans and vowed to keep fighting. Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute had given England a fleeting lead, but late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez turned the match. England will face France in the third‑place play‑off in Miami.
The incident sparked a range of commentary, including criticism of England’s defensive tactics and a former referee’s remarks about the team’s conduct. Overall, the defeat adds another chapter to England’s series of semi‑final exits and fuels debate over what is needed to finally capture a major trophy.