The build-up was so different, but in the end the outcome so familiar. Another tournament campaign ends in a crushing defeat, and England exit the World Cup at the semi-finals for the second time in three tournaments.

It all felt so different ahead of kick-off. The win over Mexico had instilled real belief in the players and fans, with both now feeling that this Three Lions side had the mentality and the ability to go right to the end.

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If the 2018 semi-final had come by surprise, this one came with expectation. While Thomas Tuchel‘s side had edged past DR Congo, Mexico and Norway, there was still a feeling that this was a team that was ready to take on the biggest sides in the world.

To an extent, that feeling was justified. England limited a gifted Argentina side for much of this semi-final in Atlanta, and even went ahead after a goal by one of the tournament’s surprise packages, Anthony Gordon.

For the first 60 minutes or so of this contest, England were probably the better side, even if it was a close call. These players were on the way to proving themselves and their fans right.

That is, at least, until the familiarity returned. The Three Lions sat back and invited pressure, surely one of the worst ideas in the sport when Lionel Messi is on the opposing team. There would have been a real sense of dread and déjà vu from anyone watching the loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

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The rest, as they say, is history. Enzo Fernandez fired in from outside the box, Lautaro Martinez nodded in from close range, and the status quo returned. The world champions are in a second consecutive World Cup final, and England have fallen at one of the final hurdles once more.

The fallout from a loss in these circumstances will continue for days as pundits, fans and the FA analyse a defeat that was snatched from the jaws of victory. Tuchel himself will deservedly come under fire and could well find he loses his job after a performance that echoed that of his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

What must be remembered though, is that while it is a harsh way to have to do it, this can serve as a vital learning curve for a young and gifted England squad.

There is plenty of reason to be positive about this group of players. They have delivered one of the most memorable performances in decades with the win over Mexico, and while they are still to beat one of the world’s best sides on the international stage, this was a performance that took the holders and one of the best players of all time all the way. Managerial decisions can sometimes be the deciding margin, and they were this evening in Atlanta.

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It will be a tough pill to swallow, and there will be little to look at positively for a while, but this is another step in a journey of a young side with plenty of talent. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have been the standout players once again, but their talents and contributions need no more attention as England prepare to go home.

More pertinently, the contributions of several younger, less heralded players in this side bode well for England’s future, as the Three Lions try to build a squad with the perfect blend of talent and experience necessary to win the biggest honours.

Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Elliot Anderson, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers are all aged 25 or younger and all produced their own solid displays throughout this World Cup, blending in well even when asked to perform in different ways to how they do at club level.

The older players – who seem so because they’ve been around for so long – also produced good performances, with Reece James and Declan Rice in particular providing a reminder that they are among the best in the world in their positions.

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In the end, they were arguably let down by poor managerial decisions on a day that could have gone so differently, but it makes for a promising future for the Three Lions.

Add in the raft of talent that was left at home and the squad for Euro 2028 could look markedly different, but this is still a group that is well-placed to deliver success on the biggest stage at a home tournament in two summers’ time.

And so, it is another summer spent wondering, ‘maybe next time’ ringing around the heads of players, fans and pundits alike. England, like millions around the world, has lived in hope for 60 years now. We’ll all have to do so for at least another two, but isn’t that the point?