England's World Cup heartbreak deepens as Argentina's late double exposes familiar flaws

It was 86 minutes in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon had put England ahead shortly after half-time. A first World Cup final since 1966 was within reach. Then the familiar script flipped. Argentina's Enzo Fernández equalised with a fierce drive from a Lionel Messi short corner. Three minutes later, Lautaro Martínez, unmarked, headed home Messi's cross. England were out. 'It's maybe not in our DNA … to control the game and ball,' Thomas Tuchel had said after the quarter-final win against Norway. The late collapse against Argentina added to a catalogue of disappointment now stretching 60 years: successive Euro final losses, the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia, and now this. Tuchel's decision to switch to a back five, bringing on Ezri Konsa for Gordon, invited pressure. 'Tuchel played with fire,' the Guardian reported. The head coach later rejected suggestions he told players to hold on. England's campaign relied on moments. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham scored 12 of England's 14 goals. Elsewhere, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were hampered by illness and injury; John Stones is 32. 'Effort, spirit and the knack of producing big moments will only take you so far,' wrote BBC Sport's Phil McNulty. The fallout continues. FIFA issued a statement about Argentina players holding a Falklands banner after the match. Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Nicky Butt urged Kobbie Mainoo, who has not played a minute in the tournament, to boycott Saturday's third-place play-off against France in Miami. 'The 21-year-old has been left on the bench for all seven matches,' reports the Mirror. Tuchel is expected to make changes. But the deeper question remains: do England lack all-round quality? As the nation braces for another 'nearly' chapter, the final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey – attended by US President Donald Trump – offers a reminder of what might have been.