Argentina's win over England means World Cup final will break outrageous record that's lasted for 44 years

Argentina’s last-gasp 2-1 win over England in the semi-finals of the World Cup means a 44-year record will be broken during Sunday’s final.

Nails have been bitten to the core in households all around England and Argentina.

England took the lead through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, courtesy of an excellent cross by Morgan Rogers, edging the Three Lions closer to just their second-ever World Cup final, where Spain await.

However, it simply wasn’t to be for Tuchel’s side as late strikes from Enzo Fernandez and substitute Lautaro Martinez in the 85th and 92nd minutes respectively sent Argentina to their third final in just four tournaments.

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And Martinez’s strike ensured Inter Milan’s 44-year record of having a representative play in every final between 1982 and 2026 continued.

However, England’s semi-final exit means Sunday’s final will see Bayern’s 44-year record of having a player in every World Cup final since 1982 come to an end, as Harry Kane will not take part.

England face France in the bronze medal match, set to take place in Miami on Saturday (July 18).

Instant reaction to England World Cup semi-final defeat

Shortly after the defeat, pundits began offering their takes on England's cruel defeat, with former Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney telling BBC Sport: "We got ourselves in such a good position, and then we didn't know what to do. We sat back, we allowed them to come onto us. They were creating a number of chances, then we cracked. Really disappointed."

Meanwhile, his colleague Alan Shearer added: "I think the better team won. You have got to be open and honest about it. Their reaction was brilliant, they hit the post a few times and England got lucky. How they didn't panic, how they stuck to their game plan, how they believed in what they were doing, and they did it. The substitutions worked for them, and you have to respect the way they came back into the game. They deserve to be in the final on Sunday, as much as it hurts to say that."

Joe Hart commented: "Gareth Southgate took a lot of criticism for the big moments with England, when they had the lead in big games and shutting up shop. I don't see that anything has changed in that big moment out there. For as much praise as we have given Thomas Tuchel, for him to change it as soon as he did, that is him saying he didn't believe in his team, that he didn't think they could land any more punches on Argentina."