England's latest World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, following a late collapse from 1-0 up, has reopened the familiar wounds of a nation that has not won a men's major tournament since 1966. Thomas Tuchel's team joined a long list of England sides that have fallen at the penultimate hurdle, raising the question: why do England keep losing semi-finals?
The 2026 World Cup semi-final in Atlanta saw Anthony Gordon give England the lead in the 55th minute. But Argentina scored two late goals to win 2-1, sending them to the final against Spain. England had been hoping to reach their first men's World Cup final since winning the tournament at Wembley in 1966. Instead, they added this defeat to a catalogue of near misses: the 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia, and consecutive European Championship final defeats in 2021 and 2024. The result gave weight to the argument that England are a “nearly” team.
“England's latest semi-final loss raises questions about their big-game reliability and near-miss habit.”
Tuchel switched to a back five for the final quarter, a move that did not work. He later said the problem was not the system but the passivity of the players after taking the lead. He lamented England's inability to get on the ball and control the game, suggesting it was “not in their DNA” to do so. The Football Association hired Tuchel partly to solve this issue. Reports from the Mirror indicate that Tuchel rejected the suggestion that he instructed the players to hold onto the lead, instead wanting them to “play higher”. But the result was the same: another semi-final exit.
Why does this matter for UK readers? England fans have endured 60 years of hurt, with the men's team consistently falling short in the latter stages of tournaments. The pattern of effort, spirit, and big moments – typified by captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham scoring 12 of England's 14 World Cup goals between them – has not been enough. Tuchel himself said you could bottle England's mentality and sell it, but not their big-game reliability. For a football-mad nation, the repeated near misses raise questions about the team's quality, tactics, and mentality.
Q: What were England's main weaknesses in the 2026 World Cup? England lacked all-round quality compared to other top teams. They relied heavily on Kane and Bellingham for goals, and were not “stamped right through the side” like Spain or France. Injuries to key players like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka also reduced their effectiveness.
Q: Is Thomas Tuchel staying as England manager? Yes. Tuchel has said he is “100%” committed to leading England at Euro 2028, and the FA continues to back him. He signed a contract extension in February 2026 and wants to find the “extra level” needed to win a trophy.
Q: How does this defeat compare to previous England semi-final losses? It follows a similar pattern to the 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia and the Euro 2020 final defeat on penalties. England have now lost four of their last five major tournament knockout matches, with only the 2022 World Cup quarter-final win against Senegal as a recent success.
Next up for England is the third-place play-off against France on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Then attention turns to Euro 2028, where Tuchel will try to end the near-miss cycle. The FA has acknowledged the tough draw and logistical challenges of the 2026 World Cup, including 13 flights and extreme heat, but the familiar feeling of deja vu remains.
