Harry Kane had barely finished processing the 2-1 defeat that knocked England out of the World Cup when he delivered a verdict that cut through the noise: they had tried to hold on, and at this level, that was not enough.
Speaking after Argentina’s late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez shattered England’s dream in the semi-final on Wednesday, the captain did not spare himself or his teammates. “We played a good game for the large majority of it,” he said. “Once we went 1-0 up, we just seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough.”
“Harry Kane says England played too defensively after going 1-0 up in World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.”
Kane, 32, admitted the team had not executed manager Thomas Tuchel’s instructions properly after taking the lead. “We struggled to get pressure on the ball,” he explained. “Especially first half and start of the second half, we pressed them well… After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave.”
For one fan, the defeat carried a more permanent sting. Sean Carrington, from Manchester, had already tattooed ‘England World Cup Winner 2026’ on his body after the win over DR Congo. “I’m just impulsive really,” he told the BBC. He now plans to add ‘Just kidding’ to the ink, which he got at Holy Trinity Tattoo Studio in Standish.
The Prince of Wales wrote on Instagram that he was “gutted”, adding: “England, you gave it everything and we are all so proud of you.” Sir Keir Starmer praised the team’s “passion and energy”.
Kane, whose 121st cap took him above Wayne Rooney as England’s most-capped outfielder, refused to confirm whether he would play at another World Cup. “It’s still too early to say,” he said. “I take it year by year… four years is a long time. But then again, you can see someone like Messi still performing at the highest level even at an older age.”
The defeat leaves England’s future under Tuchel uncertain, with the manager immediately facing questions over his defensive substitutions that preceded Argentina’s comeback.
