Harry Kane identifies familiar flaw as England fall short against Argentina in World Cup semifinal

Harry Kane said England lost control after taking the lead as Argentina produced a late comeback to reach the World Cup final.
The England captain refused to speculate on his international future and insisted his focus remains on representing his country for as long as possible.
Dan Burn admitted England became too passive during the closing stages as another major tournament ended in heartbreak.

Harry Kane admitted England’s World Cup semifinal defeat to Argentina exposed the same shortcomings that have undermined previous tournament campaigns after the Three Lions surrendered a winning position in Atlanta.

England appeared on course for only the second World Cup final in their history when Anthony Gordon fired Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead in the 55th minute. Instead, Argentina seized control of the closing stages, with Enzo Fernández levelling five minutes from time before Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi’s stoppage-time cross to complete a dramatic 2-1 turnaround.

For Kane, the result was less about one late collapse than a recurring pattern that England have yet to overcome.

The captain felt England managed the contest well for the opening hour and deserved their advantage, but acknowledged they gradually surrendered possession, territory and momentum after taking the lead. Rather than continuing to press, England retreated deeper, allowing Argentina to dictate the tempo and spend sustained periods around the penalty area.

Kane believes that shift ultimately proved decisive.

“It’s a similar story to what’s happened in previous tournaments,” he said.

England have now suffered knockout defeats after leading in the 2018 World Cup semifinal against Croatia, the Euro 2020 final against Italy and now the 2026 World Cup semifinal against Argentina.

Kane accepted there is a natural instinct to protect an advantage at such a crucial stage of a tournament, but felt England invited too much pressure with too much time remaining.

The Bayern Munich striker said England will analyse the defeat carefully, adding that learning how to control matches after taking the lead remains one of the biggest steps the squad must make if it is to win a major tournament.

“It’s probably been the missing piece over the last four tournaments,” he said.

Attention also turned to Kane’s long-term international future after another World Cup campaign ended in disappointment. The striker will be 36 by the time the next tournament arrives, but he dismissed suggestions that Wednesday’s defeat could mark his final appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Instead, Kane said he will continue assessing his career one season at a time and has no intention of setting an end date while he still believes he can contribute.

“The national team is my pride and joy,” he said.

Defender Dan Burn echoed Kane’s assessment, believing England lost the aggressive edge that had carried them into a deserved lead.

Burn was introduced late in the match as Tuchel reshaped his side, but admitted England became increasingly passive as Argentina grew stronger with every attack.

The Newcastle United defender felt England had successfully managed similar situations throughout the tournament, making the manner of the defeat even more painful.

“We went a bit passive and ultimately got punished for it,” Burn said.

England now turn their attention to Saturday’s third-place playoff against France before beginning preparations for the next chapter under Tuchel, whose contract runs through UEFA Euro 2028. The defeat will take time to digest, but the challenge facing England remains unchanged: turning promising tournament runs into silverware.

WRITTEN BY

Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.