The desperation was palpable as England suffered a late collapse against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, missing their first men's final appearance since 1966. Head coach Thomas Tuchel was already highly critical of his squad, even after their 2-1 quarter-final win against Norway, and that bitter disappointment against Argentina only amplified the familiar questions.
Mentality Can't Buy You a Trophy
Tuchel famously claimed you could bottle up England's mentality and sell it. But what you couldn't sell, he said, was their big-game reliability when it truly mattered. That outspoken interview came right after the Norway game, where despite the 2-1 win, Tuchel lambasted their performance. He pinpointed a critical weakness: ball possession. "It's maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA to take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem," he stated. That's a brutal assessment from your own coach, questioning the very core of how your team plays! It definitely gives you pause when you look at how they ultimately crumbled against Argentina.Kane and Bellingham Carried Them, But Not Far Enough
This latest semi-final loss just adds to a crushing catalogue of disappointment for England, now stretching 60 years. We're talking successive Euro final losses and that 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia. It fuels the argument they're destined to always be a "nearly" team. While their effort, spirit, and knack for producing big moments are commendable, they only take you so far. For England, it was Kane and Bellingham, their two world-class outstanding performers, who were doing most of the heavy lifting. The duo scored 12 of England's 14 goals, six each, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon grabbing the others. Kane's late double pulled them from humiliation against DR Congo, and Bellingham was the saviour with two goals against Norway. But you can't rely on those moments forever, can you? They lack the class stamped through the side like Spain or France, and they don't have the refusal to be beaten that Argentina showed, especially with Lionel Messi.A Team Built on Moments, Not Consistency
Tuchel's frustration wasn't just about spirit; it was about all-round quality. He was hampered by Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the Arsenal duo, struggling with illness and injuries, which clearly reduced their effectiveness. John Stones, at 32, remains a class act, but elsewhere, the team leans more towards solid and reliable than spectacular. Even with quality like Rice and Elliot Anderson in midfield, Tuchel's side struggled to control possession and dictate terms against quality opponents. The campaign was restricted, and often rescued, by individual moments, not by consistently good performances. The team only really played well for about 30 minutes in the second half of their 4-2 opening group win against Croatia. Players were reportedly disappointed at the tactics, and Tuchel himself questioned the team's DNA. This wasn't a team that could control the game; it was a team hoping for a spark. So, where does England go from here after another devastating late collapse? This bitter disappointment leaves them with a 60-year stretch of "nearly" moments. The questions about their all-round quality and whether they can ever truly control a big game against top-tier opposition are louder than ever. It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that showed so much spirit but just couldn't deliver when it counted most.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.