Losing a World Cup semi-final to footballing rivals absolutely crushes. After back-to-back European final losses in 2021 and 2024, plus another World Cup semi-final exit in 2018, it would be easy for England fans to wallow in what feels like constant heartbreak. But let me tell you, this team showed so much more than just a gut-wrenching exit. They had a massive highlight with that 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca, and there's a ton of reasons to be seriously hyped about this squad moving forward.
Kane and Bellingham Are Straight Up Goal Machines
You know it, I know it, everyone who watched this World Cup knows it: having not one, but *two* Golden Boot contenders on your squad is no joke. Harry Kane, who rolled into this tournament after averaging a goal every 66 minutes for Bayern Munich this season, was always going to be a threat. He dropped two goals on Croatia in the opener, then piled on four more as England fought through the tournament, bringing his total to six. But the real stunner? Jude Bellingham. After a quieter season at Real Madrid post-shoulder surgery, he still managed to match Kane's tally with six goals himself! These two saved England when it mattered most: Kane's brace against DR Congo stopped a humiliating round of 32 exit, and Bellingham's double against Norway punched their ticket to the semi-finals. While Kane hasn't committed to the 2030 World Cup, we're definitely getting at least one more outing for this dynamic duo at the 2028 Euros.Consistent Deep Runs Show Huge Progress
Yeah, the semi-final and final losses sting, no denying that. But think about it: reaching the semi-final of a major tournament has become an expectation for England, and that is a seriously massive sign of progress! Before that 2018 World Cup semi-final, England hadn't even made it past the quarter-finals since Italy 1990. And until their 2020 Euros final loss, they hadn't gone further than the quarter-finals since losing to Germany in the 1996 semi-finals. The trophy cabinet might still be a little light, sure, but reaching a semi-final or final in four of the last five major tournaments? That's an incredible turnaround in form. They even showed they can play when everything's against them, battling through hot and humid match conditions in this World Cup. That kind of resilience speaks volumes. The lack of silverware still stings, of course. But with these two absolute snipers leading the charge, and the team proving they can consistently make deep runs, the future looks bright. They've still got the third-place play-off coming up, with Kane and Bellingham both looking to snag that Golden Boot title from Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, who are currently tied with eight goals. You know they'll be fired up to prove a point.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.