Soccer, for all its capacity to surprise, is made up of customs that are both familiar and powerful – none more so than the ritual of England capturing fans’ hearts only to break them with a wrenching exit on the global stage.Sixty years after its lone triumph, not even a side featuring Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham decorated could break the curse, as the Three Lions bowed out in a crushing 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles