Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal tore the roof off Boxpark Wembley, where 2,500 England fans erupted in joy—jumping, hugging, screaming—confident their team was heading to the World Cup final. But seven minutes of Argentine demolition turned that roar into silence, and streams of Three Lions fans dispersed, leaving only a lonely sea of empty plastic cups on the lobby floor.
Gordon’s strike at the Atlanta Stadium put England 1-0 up against Argentina in the 2026 semi-final, a lead that felt secure. Before kick-off, fans were jubilant, riding high after back-to-back knockout wins over Mexico and Norway. “I think this England team is pretty strong,” said Oliver Juddah, 18, one of the spectators at Boxpark. “Everyone was talking about how Thomas Tuchel didn’t pick the right players, but the squad shows chemistry.” His friend Benny Dolman, also 18, agreed: “I think they’ve really stepped up, the whole team.”
“Anthony Gordon put England ahead but Argentina struck back to win 2-1, ending England's World Cup hopes.”
Inside Boxpark, the floor was full before kick-off. St George’s flag bucket hats were handed out, and some were already lobbed across the concourse before the national anthems. The mood was a world away from eight years earlier, when England faced a semi-final with nervousness—still scarred by the Euro 2016 humiliation against Iceland. This time, fans felt England weren’t just making up the numbers.
But Thomas Tuchel’s defence-minded substitutions backfired. The England head coach’s changes, intended to protect the lead, instead opened the door for Argentina. The South Americans scored twice in quick succession, turning Gordon’s opener into a footnote. After full-time, Boxpark was devastated. The optimism that had defined the evening evaporated.
Wayne Rooney did not hold back on Tuchel’s decisions, according to reports, and debate has already begun over whether the German coach will be sacked. But for now, the lingering image is not Gordon’s goal but the empty cups and the silent floor of a pub that had promised so much.