From hope to heartbreak: England denied by Argentina's late surge

ATLANTA, July 16 : The dream died on a summer night, as it has so many times before, not with a bang but with the familiar aching silence that settles over England after the final whistle of a World Cup defeat. 

England's dream of reaching a first World Cup final since 1966 was shattered as holders Argentina scored twice in the closing stages to snatch a 2-1 semi-final victory on Wednesday. 

The players sank to the grass. Their supporters stood frozen in the stands, scarves draped around shoulders that had carried expectation for a month.

And so England's latest pursuit of the one prize that continues to define their footballing identity came to an end - not in triumph, but in the cruel space between possibility and achievement. Again.

England must now regroup for Saturday's third-place match against France in Miami.

There will inevitably be pointed questions for coach Thomas Tuchel after England retreated deeper and deeper following Anthony Gordon's opener, surrendering the initiative and ultimately seeing Argentina punish them with two late goals.

"We have crumbled," former England captain Wayne Rooney told the BBC. "It started from the manager and the decisions he made. It was too passive.

"Against this team, the world champions, you will not get away with it. This has been the biggest test and we have failed it."

Tuchel, who has signed a contract extension through to Euro 2028, said he remains committed to leading England, and reminded reporters that the tournament is not over.

"There is still a game to play, even if it is not one we wanted to be involved in," he said.

"After that, we move forward. I am under contract through to the home Euros in 2028 and, despite the disappointment we feel now, I am already looking ahead to