"I wanted to hope, but in the end, that hope faded", Sean Bannon, 33, told AFP. Bannon stood silently outside a pub in north London, where he had just watched England surrender a one-goal lead as Argentina mounted a comeback in the final minutes.
"There's a bitter taste, but we are too familiar with these kinds of defeats, so we knew what was coming. Perhaps we just have to start over", Bannon said, before quietly joining the departing crowd.
Bannon's sentiment echoed the general feeling among England fans who watched the semi-final match on the afternoon of 15/7 at the Atlanta stadium, US. Across England, crowds of spectators were left only with sadness after the 1-2 defeat to rivals Argentina.
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English fans react at Boxpark Wembley, London, as Argentina scored their second goal in the World Cup 2026 semi-final on 15/7. Photo: AFP |
English fans react at Boxpark Wembley, London, as Argentina scored their second goal in the World Cup 2026 semi-final on 15/7. Photo: AFP
In Camden Town, a neighborhood known for its nightlife, a somber atmosphere prevailed as people quietly left the pubs.
Losing to Argentina meant England missed the chance to avenge their defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. England also squandered an opportunity to win their second World Cup title and replicate the achievement of the 1966 generation. The last time England reached a World Cup semi-final was in 2018, where they were eliminated by Croatia.
"I am truly sad and disappointed", shared Jemima, a 21-year-old student wearing an England jersey. "I believed the team could do it. Everything had been going so well."
Throughout the tournament in North America, England fans repeatedly sang The Beatles' "Hey Jude" to cheer on star Jude Bellingham, along with the traditional anthem "Three Lions" featuring the famous line, "It's coming home". However, after the final whistle, only silence remained.
For many younger fans, this was their first time witnessing England play Argentina, as the two teams last met in an official tournament at the 2002 World Cup, where England secured a 1-0 victory. Tom Denison, 31, was one of them.
"Everyone knew this was England's first encounter with Lionel Messi, a showdown everyone anticipated. It was truly special. The match carried significant historical meaning", Denison said, referring to Diego Maradona's famous "Hand of God" goal at the 1986 World Cup and the prolonged sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands, or Malvinas as they are known in Argentina, were the site of a 1982 war in the South Atlantic, which resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine and 255 British soldiers.
Emily Dolling, 25, predicted that "tomorrow will be terribly gloomy", while her friend Sadie Nencini remained optimistic.
"We had a proud journey. I think everyone will still hold their heads high", Nencini, 26, said. "The team played very well."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his "deep regret", but affirmed on social media that the England team "gave their all".
"Though today the Three Lions are experiencing the pain of defeat, you remain the pride of the nation and will undoubtedly rise stronger", the British Royal Family wrote on X.
After defeating England, Argentina will face Spain in the final, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on 19/7 (2 a.m. on 20/7 Hanoi time) at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, US.
Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)
