It is a familiar, painful feeling that has passed down through generations of England football fans. For a glorious half hour in Georgia, the dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup final felt incredibly real. Anthony Gordon had fired the Three Lions ahead in the 55th minute, sending millions at home and thousands in the Atlanta Stadium into absolute euphoria.
Then the familiar script began to unfold.
As the clock ticked down, the collective anxiety of a nation seemed to manifest on the pitch. Enzo Fernandez equalised for Argentina in the 85th minute. Before fans could even process the dread of extra-time, Lautaro Martinez struck a decisive blow in injury time. In just five agonising minutes, dreams of World Cup glory faded into the air.
The aftermath leaves a heavy, exhausting disappointment across the country. Bars fell silent, flags were packed away, and the familiar chorus of “football’s coming home” was replaced by a quiet, collective sigh and grumblings of discontent. It is the repetitive nature of these exits that stings the most. Under Thomas Tuchel, this tournament initially felt different, yet it ended in the exact same heartbreaking fashion as so many campaigns before.
Exactly six decades have now passed since England last lifted the World Cup in 1966. For younger supporters, this is another scar to add to Euro final defeats and previous semi-final heartbreaks. For older fans, it is a scene they have witnessed too many times. While the players look ahead to a third-place play-off against France on Saturday, the fans are left to nurse their hangovers. The wait for glory continues, and the belief will eventually return, but right now the dominant feeling is profound disappointment.