Why England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurt

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Why England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurtImage source, ReutersImage caption, Jude Bellingham and his England team-mates were dejected at the full-time whistleByPhil McNulty Chief football writer in AtlantaPublished4 hours agoEngland's years of hurt will now stretch beyond 60, but the late collapse to a World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina may just be the most painful wound of all. The clock inside the magnificent Atlanta Stadium showed England were five minutes of normal time away from ending the wait for a men's World Cup final that stretches back to 1966, when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley. England's players and head coach Thomas Tuchel had immortality in their hands as they led through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal.

Their grasp, however, was being loosened by catastrophic decision making from Tuchel that instigated wave after wave of Argentina attacks orchestrated by Lionel Messi. One goal seemed inevitable - and it came from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute. Then, with England on the ropes, they were floored by Lautaro Martinez's injury-time header.

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England could not come back, so a stunned football nation wakes up to another desperate near-miss from this nearly team. Tuchel fails in England mission Figure caption, Argentina shatter England's World Cup dreams in semi-finalTuchel's unique selling point when he succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate was the idea he would win matches his predecessor could not. That he would not be gripped by the caution Southgate was criticised for when losing the last two Euros finals to Italy and Spain, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final to Croatia.

The thinking was that Tuchel would drive England over the line, whereas Southgate supposedly retreated from it. And yet, when it counted and the pressure was at its height, Tuchel produced the sort of tactical retreat - and loss - that would have seen Southgate pilloried. Instead, it will now be Tuchel getting the criticism for that decision - and rightly so.

The Football Association went for a quick-fix appointment to succeed Southgate after Euro 2024, bringing in a proven winner whose sole mission was to win the 2026 World Cup, or put "a second star on the shirt" as Tuchel called it. A semi-final can only rank as par, and, in the harshest light, a failure, because he was brought in to make sure England did not have any more hard-luck stories or disappointments. And, as with Southgate, Tuchel has still not guided England to victory against a side there were not high expectations they would beat.

There will be recriminations about how Tuchel engineered England's defeat mainly by his own hand, effectively repeating everything that brought Southgate so much criticism. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, England head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to lead the team into Euro 2028Once Gordon put England ahead in this latest stormy episode of an old and bitter rivalry, Tuchel decided on a rearguard action.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.