As football lover and a fan of England football, this one really hurts.
When Anthony Gordon scored, I genuinely believed England is finally going to make it to the World Cup final. The team had worked so hard throughout the tournament, and for a while it looked like everything was falling into place. Sadly, football has a cruel way of changing in just a few minutes.
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For me, the biggest turning point was not Argentina's first goal but it was how England reacted after taking the lead. Instead of keeping the pressure on and looking for a second goal, they slowly dropped deeper and allowed Argentina to control the game. That's always a dangerous approach against a team filled with experienced players and they paid for it.
Once Enzo Fernandez found the equaliser, you could almost feel the momentum shift. England looked shaken, while Argentina suddenly believed they could win it. When Lautaro Martinez scored the winner late on, it was heartbreaking. After coming so close, seeing the dream disappear like that was difficult to accept.
I also agree with Harry Kane's honest assessment after the match. He admitted that trying to protect a one-goal lead was not enough, and I respect him for saying it. At this level, sitting back rarely works against the world's best teams. You have to stay brave and keep attacking.
There will no doubt be plenty of discussions about Thomas Tuchel's substitutions and tactics. That's part of football. Every manager faces criticism after a painful defeat. However, I don't think one loss should erase the progress England have made under him. Reaching another World Cup semi-final is not something every nation achieves, even if it doesn't feel like much right now.
I'm actually glad Tuchel has confirmed he'll stay until Euro 2028. Hosting that tournament gives England another huge opportunity, and keeping the same manager could provide the stability this squad needs. Hopefully, everyone involved will learn from this painful experience instead of letting it define them.
There is still a third-place match against France, even though it's not the game anyone wanted to be playing. It won't erase the disappointment, but it gives the players one last chance to finish the tournament with pride.
For now, the pain is real. England were only minutes away from another World Cup final before it all slipped away. But that's football. It can break your heart one day and give you hope the next. As disappointed as I am, I'll still be backing this team because one day, I believe they'll finally get over that last hurdle.
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