Kane ‘gutted’ after England crash out of World Cup

England's forward Harry Kane expressed his disappointment after England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup on July 15, 2026. Anthony Gordon initially put the Three Lions ahead, marking a significant moment as they sought their first men's World Cup final since 1966. However, the match turned dramatically when Lionel Messi assisted Enzo Fernandez, who scored from outside the area. Messi later provided the cross leading to Lautaro Martinez's winning goal in stoppage time.

After the match, Kane shared his feelings with the BBC, saying, "Gutted for the boys, gutted for everyone — the team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game, the large majority of it. When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough. He reflected on the struggle against Argentina, stating, "After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave."

Despite scoring six goals throughout the tournament, Kane noted that the team struggled to defend against Argentina's relentless attacks. "Lads were putting blocks in but, in the end, it just wasn’t enough," he remarked.

Kane also commented on their game plan, explaining that they had not intended to focus solely on defense after taking the lead. "When we went ahead the messaging was to go again and get another goal. But once they scored their two goals, it was to try and find something but we couldn’t quite get the momentum back in the game."

This defeat marks another significant moment for England, who have reached at least the semi-finals in four of the last five major tournaments but have not won since their 1966 triumph. Approaching his 33rd birthday, Kane acknowledged the uncertainty of his future with the national team, noting, "The England national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do more than anything."

He highlighted the long wait until the next World Cup and cited Lionel Messi's continued excellence at 39, stating, "I never want to put a limit on these things. But for now, it’s just about processing another tough loss with this team."