16th Jul21:07 BSTKane sends emotional message Harry Kane has issued an emotional message on Instagram after England crashed out of the World Cup following a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday.Kane said: "No words are big enough right now to overcome this empty feeling in the stomach. We were close, really close to another final but it wasn’t enough. We’ve given everything over these last 7 weeks and to fall short is hard to take!"Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul20:41 BSTEngland World Cup defeat costEngland's World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina has cost the nation £334million.The country's retail industry will miss out on £267m in sales due to the Three Lions' failure to reach the final.Sporting goods and souvenir manufacturers, electronics giants hoping to flog new TVs and superstores planning to supply food and drink for World Cup house parties were all counting the cost of Thomas Tuchel’s team’s defeat.On top of their loss pubs, clubs, restaurants and fan zones will miss out on £109m in revenue, spending analysts said.The final between Spain and Argentina will still generate £114m for the UK economy. But that is just a quarter of what would have flown into the country’s coffers had the Lions got there.Hospitality venues can expect visitor numbers to drop from 6.9m to 2.7m and spend from £142.6m to just £33.5m.Moji Oshisanya, chief commercial officer at analyst VoucherCodes.co.uk, said businesses should still be grateful for the extra the cash the Three Lions’ run in the tournament had generated.She said: "While England won’t be bringing football home this year it’s still astounding to see just how much of an economic boost events like the World Cup can bring to the UK."Spending might not quite have hit the heights that we would’ve liked had England lifted the trophy. But retailers and hospitality venues can still be thankful for a bump in sales thanks to the Three Lions and their dedicated fans."England manager Thomas Tuchel during the World Cup semi-final defeat vs Argentina.(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)16th Jul20:05 BSTDjed Spence's emotional message England full-back Djed Spence has taken to social media to give his reaction to the defeat against Argentina.The defender was one of the standout players for England on the night, with his crunching tackle to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity one of the highlights.Writing on Instagram, he has said:"Heart broken to say the least, we gave it our all, we left our hearts and souls on the pitch but it just wasn’t meant to be. This is a special group of players & I’m proud to be apart of this team!"We’ll be back stronger than ever "GOD IS THE GREATEST "BELIEVE!"Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul19:01 BSTFIFA release statement over Falklands banner held up by Argentina playersFIFA are investigating after Argentina's players displayed what the Falkland Islands Government described as an 'insensitive' banner following their win against England. A late comeback in Atlanta saw Argentina snatch a 2-1 victory, sending them through to the World Cup final.During the full-time celebrations, a group of Argentina players held up a banner which read: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine)." It comes after Argentina's players sung a chant referencing the Falklands in the wake of their 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.FIFA responded to the backlash by saying: "As is standard procedure, FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps."Read more here.(Image: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)16th Jul18:30 BSTEngland reaction to Tuchel changes England players are said to have been left 'stunned' by Thomas Tuchel's tactics in the Three Lions' 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World cup semi-final.Anthony Gordon put England in the driving seat with a brilliant late dash into the box, directing Morgan Rogers' cross into the back of the net in the 55th minute.However, the Three Lions collapsed late on and conceded two late goals as Argentina booked their place in a consecutive World Cup final. The Telegraph claims Tuchel's decision to send on Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn in an attempt to see out the game and hang onto their lead.It added that those in the England ranks felt Argentina were there for the taking after Gordon's opener and that Lionel Scaloni's men would have been more open on the counter, playing right into England's hands.However, instead of bringing on the likes of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford or Noni Madueke to freshen things up on the flanks, Tuchel went to a 5-4-1.(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)16th Jul18:04 BSTFalkland Islands statementJack Ford, Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, has written a statement after the Argentina players held up a banner following the World Cup semi-final against England.I am writing on behalf of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, the democratically elected body representing the people of the Falkland Islands, regarding a matter following the England v Argentina game on the 15th of July 2026.Following Argentina's victory, members of the Argentina squad displayed a sign reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" in what was a clear political statement relating to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Videos were also leaked following their Argentina v Egypt fixture in which the Argentinian squad sang chants about the Falkland Islands in their locker rooms. We are disappointed, though regrettably not surprised, by this manner of action, as this is not the first such incident: the Argentine Football Association was sanctioned for £20,000 by FIFA in 2014 for comparable conduct.We raise this matter for FIFA's attention on the following grounds:Consistency with FIFA's own rules. FIFA's Statutes and Disciplinary Code prohibit the use of football matches and facilities for political, religious, or personal messaging [FIFA Stadium Code of Conduct, section 2.14 and FIFA Disciplinary Code articles 15.1 and 17.2.e].The people affected by this act have a settled, democratic position. The Falkland Islands are a diverse, self-governing, self-funding British Overseas Territory; and engage internationally in sport, science, and humanitarian work as such. In the 2013 referendum on our political status, 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory, on a turnout of approximately 92%, in a vote independently monitored by international observers. The Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982, resulting in a 74-day hostile occupation. The events of this war left Falkland Islanders traumatised, causing such political acts as those after the game to be particularly insensitive to the people of the Falklands. FIFA should bear this context in mind as they make their decision.Football is, first and foremost, a sport, and it is the policy of the Falkland Islands Government to wish to not see politics brought into sport, and we support the statement by UK Minister Peter Kyle to this effect.(Image: Getty Images)16th Jul17:47 BSTHurst reacts to England World Cup exitGeoff Hurst reacted to England's defeat by saying: "Sad to say that I am the only living English World Cup winner."The star, now 84, scored a hat-trick in the Three Lions' 1966 victory over West Germany and is the only surviving member of Sir Alf Ramsey's winning team.He fancied England to beat Argentina and reach the final for the first time since.Afterwards he wrote on X: "Sad to say that I am the only living English World Cup winner."It would have been nice to (have been) joined by lots more but Argentina ended that plan. I really thought we would beat them before the game. Very sadly it was not to be."(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)16th Jul17:10 BSTBellingham may face FIFA action following post-match ‘slap’England midfielder Jude Bellingham appeared to strike the back of Argentina player Valentin Barco's head after the World Cup semi-final defeat in Atlanta.Barco was an unused substitute but had run onto the field in celebration following Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser, pumping his fists as he ran along the 18-yard line and earning a shove on his way from England defender John Stones.Bellingham approached Barco after the match had ended as the player celebrated with a group of team-mates after the match and appeared to slap the back of his head.The former Brighton player then turned to confront his opponent before the pair were broken up.It remains to be seen whether FIFA’s disciplinary committee will take any action on Bellingham that would result in him being suspended for the third-place match against France in Miami on Saturday.(Image: BBC iPlayer)16th Jul16:43 BSTBurn on England defeatDan Burn insists England's players must take responsibility for their Argentina collapse - not just Thomas Tuchel.The England boss actually claimed he had no regrets over his defensive changes, which included introducing towering defender Burn to the fray in a desperate bid to see the job through like Mexico.However, the Newcastle centre-back feels there had to be a shift, either tactically or mentally, as the Three Lions desperately attempted to weather the Argentine barrage.He said: "I think when we're in a 4-4-2 defending, we were conceding a lot of chances. So, something had to change, I think the manager may want to have done something in hindsight, but also from the players that we've got to take responsibility."I thought that we nailed the game plan up until we scored and we got a little bit passive after the goal."We defended probably a little bit too deep and the quality of chances that Argentina were creating felt like it was a matter of time. "I think when you come within sort of 10 15 minutes of a World Cup final and then don't get it done, it hurts."Lionel Messi capitalised on the time and space Argentina were afford by England.Burn believes England had done well to nullify the Inter Miami starlet up until that point, stating: "Yeah, for the majority I thought we did pretty well, but I think that probably shows you the quality of player he is where you can keep him quiet for most of the game and he still pops up with two assists."I'm so proud of what the team's done. I don't really think anyone gave us a chance coming into this and honestly, if I'm being completely honest, I thought we were going to do it."Dan Burn after England's defeat(Image: Getty Images)16th Jul16:16 BSTStarmer fires shot at Argentina stars In one of his last acts in office Sir Keir Starmer fired a potshot at the footballers who waved a banner on the pitch at the end of the semi-final stating: "The Falklands are Argentinian."The move breached tournament rules banning players from displaying political messages or slogans before, during or after matches.The Liberal Democrats have written to FIFA demanding the Argentinian players involved are banned from Sunday's final against Spain.Sir Keir's spokesman said: "The World Cup might not be ours but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklanders will never waver. The PM wishes both teams well for the final - especially Spain."The drama happened after Argentina’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the Three Lions in Atlanta on Wednesday.A large white banner bearing black writing reading 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' appeared to be thrown onto the pitch by fans. Some players - including stars who play their club football in England - picked it up and waved it as they celebrated.Asked about it on TV later midfielder Leandro Paredes said: "The Falklands will always be Argentinian."In 1982 Argentina and the UK fought a 74-day war over the sovereignty of the South Atlantic islands - founded by a Brit sea captain in 1690 - in which 907 died.In a 2013 referendum 99/8 per cent of the islanders voted to stay British.But the Argentinians have continued to lay claim to the archipelago and raised the issue again ahead of the meeting between the two national teams at the World Cup.(Image: Zeynep Demir Aslim/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)16th Jul15:49 BSTLineker makes Tuchel jokeGary Lineker has joked that Thomas Tuchel is a "German spy" whose job is to make sure England suffer because Germany are struggling so much at major tournaments.He is the first German to lead the Three Lions and had presided over a perfect qualification campaign and some impressive World Cup wins. His tactics and managerial IQ were seen as a difference maker, but England were undone by Argentina in the semi-finals.Tuchel is copping blame for the defeat with his defensive tactics, which had paid dividends against Mexico and Norway, proving the team's undoing. They invited huge amounts of pressure and Argentina eventually made it tell late in the game.Lineker has jokingly suggested that Germany have sent Tuchel in to ruin England's hopes of winning but did cast doubt over whether the ex-Chelsea boss should remain in his post.The former England striker said on his Netflix show: "I just wonder whether Thomas Tuchel’s like a German spy, we’ve been infiltrated, I think Germany, because they’re not very good at the moment, they can’t get past the group stage, and I think they’ve sent in someone."I mean, I’m joking, I’m joking obviously, but he said after the Croatia game, he said, ‘if we lose, we’ll lose our way by playing aggressive, attacking football’, he went totally against that, didn’t he?"I think the most frustrating thing as well was this team, they had a chance if they’d gone for it, and they just got it I think so wrong."Read the full story here.(Image: BBC)16th Jul15:20 BSTNo 10 backs calls for Fifa probeDowning Street has backed calls for Fifa to investigate whether Argentina players broke rules by brandishing a banner in support of their country's claim to the Falkland Islands at the World Cup.No 10 echoed remarks made earlier by Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who said the governing body should "thoroughly" probe the behaviour of the defending champions after they beat England 2-1 in Wednesday's match in Atlanta."The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are," a Downing Street spokeswoman said. "Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver."Ahead of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, she said: "The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain."The official said any potential action is a "matter for Fifa", but asked whether the Prime Minister agrees with his Cabinet minister that there should be an investigation, replied: "I would echo that position."(Image: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)16th Jul15:01 BSTEngland denied £3m windfallEngland have missed out on at least £3million in prize money following their World Cup exit to Argentina.According to BBC Sport, a total of £662m is available to all teams at the tournament with the eventual winners getting £38m. Having not reached the final, the Three Lions have missed out on at least £3m with third-place receiving £22m and the runners-up getting £25m.England have not yet confirmed their final prize and while morale may be low, £2m can be their incentive for the upcoming third-place play-off against France.Anthony Gordon (left) and Jude Bellingham (right) looked dejected as England crashed out of the World Cup last night(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)16th Jul14:31 BSTPolice rescue lone Argentina fan in LondonPolice in central London were at hand to rescue a lone Argentina supporter when fans left pubs and bars across the capital following England's World Cup loss. Footage on social media showed officers assisting the fan, who was wearing his nation's colours, into a van near hundreds of people hurling abuse.A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “As crowds were dispersing after the match, officers on duty in Piccadilly Circus became aware of a lone Argentina fan who was being surrounded by England fans. They intervened before any harm could come to him, formed a bubble around him and escorted him to the safety of a nearby police van."Elsewhere in London, seven arrests were made for a variety of crimes during the World Cup match, including one on suspicion of driving whiles unfit through drink or drugs, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.Other arrests included four being detained for affray, one for assault on an emergency worker, and another for racially aggravated assault.16th Jul14:08 BSTLatest on Tuchel's future After last night's World Cup exit, Thomas Tuchel is now priced at 5/1 to not be on the touchline for England's next game against Spain at Wembley on September 26th.bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “England were 1/6 in-play to face Spain in a World Cup final this weekend when they were minutes away from beating Argentina. Instead, the only time they’ll be playing Spain any time soon is in the Nations League clash in September.“The soundbites around Tuchel were that he’d have the experience and nous to see out such eventualities after England’s previous heart-breaking defeats at the latter stages of tournaments. However, it was an all-too-familiar tale at the Atlanta Stadium with the Three Lions unable to hold on after defending deep.“Having said that, Tuchel did sign a contract extension before the World Cup, and with the early reports suggesting that the German still retains the backing of the FA - and with few standout candidates to replace him - he’s 1/8 to carry on as normal and concentrate on the Nations League and Euro 2028.”16th Jul13:46 BSTLineker makes Tuchel 'German spy' jokeGary Lineker has joked that Thomas Tuchel is a "German spy" during the latest edition of The Rest Is Football on Netflix after England were knocked out of the World Cup.I just wonder whether Thomas Tuchel’s like a German spy, we’ve been infiltrated, I think Germany, because they’re not very good at the moment, they can’t get past the group stage, and I think they’ve sent in someone.I mean, I’m joking, I’m joking obviously, but he said after the Croatia game, he said, ‘if we lose, we’ll lose our way by playing aggressive, attacking football’, he went totally against that, didn’t he? I think the most frustrating thing as well was this team, they had a chance if they’d gone for it, and they just got it I think so wrong.And is he the right man to take us forward? Well, I mean, I never ask for anyone to get sacked, I don’t think it’s the thing to do, but it depends on him and how he feels, and also how the FA feels.Gary Lineker and Thomas Tuchel(Image: @garylineker/Instagram/PA Wire )16th Jul13:28 BST24 million tuned in for England heartbreakA report from BBC Sport suggests that a staggering 24 million tuned in to watch England's 2-1 loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. It came as the most-watched live television event of the year across all broadcasters.16th Jul13:10 BSTBritish politician makes direct request to FIFA Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and claimed that several Argentina players should be banned for the final after waving a Falklands banner. His letter in full read:Dear President Infantino,I am writing to you on behalf of the Liberal Democrats to express our profound concern regarding the unacceptable political demonstration by members of the Argentina men's national football team on 15 July 2026. Following their semi-final match against England at Atlanta Stadium, several Argentine players unfurled and posed with a banner declaring that the Falkland Islands are Argentine.The Falkland Islands are British, and their sovereignty is undisputed, underpinned by the democratic self-determination of their people. By reviving this baseless territorial claim on a global sporting stage, these players have directly insulted the people of the islands. This display is a deeply painful affront to the memory of the British veterans and Falklanders who laid down their lives defending the freedom and sovereignty of the Falklands in 1982, as well as to the families they left behind.Such behaviour directly violates the core principles of political neutrality that FIFA and the International Football Association Board are bound to protect. Specifically, this act runs afoul of FIFA’s own Stadium Code of Conduct for the 2026 World Cup, which strictly prohibits:“any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, [...] or on any other grounds.”There is direct, clear precedent for swift and decisive action in these circumstances. In August 2024, UEFA handed a one-match suspension to Spanish national team players Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (Rodri) and Álvaro Morata for leading chants of “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their post-tournament celebrations. UEFA rightly ruled that bringing territorial, political disputes into the sporting arena violates the basic principles of decent conduct, brings the sport of football into disrepute, and constitutes a non-sporting manifestation.FIFA must hold its competitors to the same ethical standards. On behalf of British football fans, the people of the Falkland Islands, and our veterans, I call on the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to take immediate action before the World Cup Final on Sunday, 19 July 2026. The players who actively held, posed with, and promoted this political banner must be issued an immediate one-match ban, disqualifying them from participating in the final.FIFA has a serious commitment to peace after giving Donald Trump the first FIFA Peace Prize and this is your chance to show it. Football is a game meant to unite the world, Allowing players to use FIFA's global platform to push aggressive and jingoistic territorial claims entirely undermines the integrity of the sport. We expect FIFA to act swiftly to protect its own regulations and ensure that the integrity of the World Cup Final is preserved.He had earlier pointed out on X that Rodri and Alvaro Morata "were rightly banned for one match" after they both sung about Gibraltar being Spain.Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul12:57 BSTMark Chapman departs World Cup quickly after England exitBBC lead presenter Mark Chapman has made a swift exit from the World Cup in order to be part of their coverage of the Open Championship.The fourth and final major event of the golf calendar began on Thursday and runs until Sunday at Royal Birkdale. Champman and his colleagues had only just arrived in the United States having presented most of the World Cup in Salford before he was making a swift exit.Chapman just about managed to squeeze in an edition of the Sports Agents podcast, which he co-hosts with Gabby Logan, who asked him: "Are you already kind of working out where you're going to watch the World Cup final? Because you're working on it, aren't you?"Chapman responded: "No, I'm not. No, I'm not." He added: "No, I'll be at the golf."(Image: BBC)16th Jul12:30 BSTArgentina players' reaction to Pickford water bottle is tellingFootage of Argentina players scrutinising Jordan Pickford's water bottle seems to show just how bang-on the England coaching staff's research into spot kick takers is. A member of Lionel Scaloni's backroom staff was seen approaching several players with Pickford's bottle in the aftermath of England's 2-1 loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday evening.The Everton goalkeeper is known to have a cheatsheet on his water bottle in the event of a penalty shootout, in which, it shows exactly where opposition players are most likely to shoot from the 12-yard spot. Footage of Argentina players looking at the water bottle appear highlight how correct penalty predictions are on the shot-stopper's part, considering the reactions of Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez.Messi was wide eyed when learning of what the graphic on Pickford's drinking bottle highlighted, while Fernandez beamed with his eyebrows raised, before pointing to the sky.Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul12:14 BSTDowning Street backs minister's call over controversial bannerDowning Street has backed Peter Kyle's calls for FIFA to investigate whether Argentina players broke World Cup ruls by displaying a banner which read "The Falklands are Argentinian" in the aftermath of Wednesday evening's match.Argentina's players hold a banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas"(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty)16th Jul12:12 BSTNew footage gives explanation over Bellingham slap on BarcoJude Bellingham was spotted slapping Valentin Barco on the back of the head at full-time, as England slipped to a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup. However, fresh footage uploaded to social media may explain why the Three Lions talent took particular issue with the 21-year-old.Footage shared on X shows Barco storming the pitch and celebrating in front of England players in the aftermath of Enzo Fernandez's 85th minute equaliser. It is unclear as to whether this instance was what Bellingham felt so aggrieved by to spark his post-match confrontation with Barco.(Image: @as_tv)16th Jul12:07 BSTArgentina fans burn England flag and walk streets with St George's Cross coffinArgentina fans were spotted burning England flags and walking around with cutouts of coffins adorned with the St George's Cross on the streets of Buenos Aires, following their nation's 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over the Three Lions.Fans burn an England flag as they celebrate Argentina's victory over England following the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final football match at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)16th Jul11:30 BSTOur reaction to England's World Cup exitWe've launched a brand-new instalment of Make Football Great Again to analyse England's 2-1 loss to Argentina in the semi-finals of the World Cup.Content cannot be displayed without consent16th Jul11:02 BSTShould Thomas Tuchel stay on as England boss?Let us know in the comments below...16th Jul10:34 BSTDavid Beckham breaks silence after World Cup 'heartbreak'On Instagram, David Beckham wrote: "Heartbreak for us all but memories that inspire and last forever...Thank you to our team , our fans & our country for what you have given us in this World Cup @england."(Image: Getty Images)16th Jul10:02 BSTEngland "deserved to get beat" says Michael OwenIn a post on X following England's World Cup loss, Michael Owen wrote: "Watch Spain at 1-0 last night. That’s courage. That’s bravery. And then watch England at 1-0. What’s the difference? We are a better team than Argentina, I’ve no doubt in my mind."But we deserved to get beat in the end. In fact, it could have been 4-1. Bringing on 3 defenders at 1-0 up. What message does that send?"Michael Owen made his feelings clear on international football(Image: Tom Dulat - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)16th Jul09:45 BSTGary Neville blows up at Roy Keane in heated row over England's World Cup exitGary Neville and Roy Keane were involved in a heated row in the aftermath of England's World Cup exit.16th Jul09:30 BSTBusiness secretary calls for FIFA investigationSpeaking to the BBC after Argentina's display of a political banner at the World Cup, Peter Kyle said: "We expect Fifa to undertake an investigation into this."I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football."(Image: AFP via Getty Images)16th Jul09:17 BSTLisandro Martinez shows true coloursLisandro Martinez was spotted consoling Kobbie Mainoo in the aftermath of England's 2-1 loss to Argentina, spending time to embrace and speak with his Manchester United team-mate.Thomas Tuchel, manager of England, walks off the pitch with Kobbie Mainoo who never got a kick(Image: 2026 Getty Images)‌