Wayne Rooney expressed that England seemed uncertain how to respond after taking the lead against Argentina in Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal.
England went ahead in the 55th minute with a goal from Anthony Gordon, who finished a cross from Morgan Rodgers.
However, Thomas Tuchel's squad struggled to maintain control as Argentina, inspired by their captain Lionel Messi, netted two late goals to secure a 2-1 victory.
In light of the loss, Rooney feels that England’s failure to manage the game after taking the lead ultimately cost them dearly.
“We found ourselves in such a strong position, yet we were at a loss for what to do,” he remarked.
“We sat back, allowing them to come at us. They were generating numerous chances, and eventually, we faltered. Really disappointing.”
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This defeat puts an end to England’s aspirations of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966, leaving Tuchel’s squad to reflect on a campaign that initially showed great promise after wins against Mexico and Norway in the knockout rounds.
Argentina, on the other hand, remains on track to defend the title they claimed four years ago in Qatar and will face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.
The Spanish side narrowly defeated France 2-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal, thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
