England Falls to Argentina in World Cup Semifinal, Continuing Heartbreak
Once again, England fans, it’s not “coming home.”
Well not yet, anyway …
England was defeated 2-1 by Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta, marking a third successive loss in World Cup semifinals for the “Three Lions” following similar defeats in 1990 and 2018.
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England’s 60 years (and counting) of hurt have been filled with painful World Cup exits, but where does this latest addition slot in on the pain-o-meter?
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane:
(Tim Goode – PA Images via Getty Images)
5. 2018 World Cup semifinal — England 1-2 Croatia
Perhaps this belongs higher up the list, but in 2018 England wasn’t expected to do much at the World Cup in Russia.
Gareth Southgate was new in the hot seat and had chosen youth over experience in a post-Wayne Rooney squad that, on paper, was missing star names and a certain X-factor.
But Southgate was able to breathe new life into a team that was recovering from a Euro 2016 humiliation to Iceland, navigating a favorable route to a World Cup semifinal.
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An experienced, dangerous Croatia were the opponents, and despite taking an early lead through a Kieran Trippier free-kick, England struggled to keep pace with a masterful midfield trio of Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić and Marcelo Brozović.
The final nail in England’s coffin came in extra-time as Mario Mandžukić netted with left-footed precision.
(Richard Sellers/Allstar via Getty Images)
4. 1998 World Cup Round of 16 — England 2-2 Argentina (3-4 penalties)
David Beckham won’t want to be reminded of this game back from France ‘98.
An electric first-half saw these rivals go into the break level at 2-2 in a finely poised affair, but a kick-out from Beckham against Diego Simeone saw “Golden Balls” collect a red card, putting his England side under pressure from the 47th minute.
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England rallied — and had a winner from Sol Campbell disallowed — until penalties were the only way to separate these two soccer-obsessed nations.
Paul Ince and David Batty were the fall guys for England as they missed penalties in the shootout, leaving Argentina to advance into the quarterfinals, while Beckham took the blame back home as English soccer turned on their No. 7.
Argentina player Diego Maradona outjumps England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score with his ‘Hand of God’ goal as England defenders Kenny Sansom (top) Gary Stevens (c) and Terry Fenwick look on during the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal at the Azteca Stadium on June 22, 1986 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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3. 1986 World Cup quarterfinal — England 1-2 Argentina
England’s quarterfinal with Argentina at Mexico ‘86 is remembered for two things: Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and his “Goal of the Century.”
The juxtaposition between these two remarkable footballing feats makes it hard to contextualize the heartbreak felt inside the Estadio Azteca, simply because pure outrage turned to awe within four second-half minutes.
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The Three Lions probably wouldn’t have won that game anyway, even if Maradona didn’t punch the ball into Peter Shilton’s goal, but they rightfully felt aggrieved in the aftermath watching Argentina go on to win its second World Cup title.
Gary Lineker’s consolation goal in the 81st minute resulted in a nervy climax to this quarterfinal, but long after full-time pain was felt by England fans whenever the photograph of the most famous handball in soccer history was shown.
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2. 1990 World Cup semifinal — England 1-1 West Germany (3-4 penalties)
This was England’s first ever penalty shootout and it remains one of the most painful.
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The game ended 1-1 at Italia ‘90, with Germany taking the lead through a deflected Andreas Brehme free-kick and Gary Lineker equalizing for England with ten minutes remaining.
After a goalless period of extra-time, spot-kicks followed for England against their fiercest rivals.
The Germans slotted all four of theirs past England’s Shilton, but Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle were unable to convert for England, resigning them to defeat in their first World Cup semifinal since 1966.
This loss set the tone for five more cruel shootout losses between 1996-2012, until Gareth Southgate cracked the code against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.
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England’s penalty shootout fortunes have changed since, but this loss to Germany will always be remembered as the reason why England has suffered with penalty trauma for so many years.
UK newspaper front pages display stories and images on England’s loss to Argentina in the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on July 16, 2026 in London, England.
(Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
1. 2026 World Cup semifinal — England 1-2 Argentina
It wasn’t supposed to go like this.
The English Football Association’s decision to hire Thomas Tuchel as head coach was an admission England needed a winner in their ranks. The anti-Gareth Southgate. Someone who could get England over the line in the pressure cooker of the biggest moments on the international stage.
The signs were good across the 2026 World Cup. England showed flair against Croatia, heart and courage against Mexico and Norway, and Tuchel’s in-game management received praise from across the nation.
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However, as soon as England took the lead Wednesday against Argentina in the 55th minute, the ghosts of tournaments past began swirling around the stadium.
England retreated, Tuchel made defensive substitutions, and England allowed Lionel Messi to orchestrate yet another Argentina comeback.
Conceding goals in the 85th and 90+2 minutes is heartbreaking enough. But against Argentina in a World Cup semifinal? That’s the toughest pill to swallow for an England fan in a result that felt self-inflicted.