Kelci Bowers, a 22-year-old former England youth international who is dating Argentina defender Marcos Senesi, has spoken out after England's World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina. Despite the painful defeat, Bowers expressed pride in her country on Instagram, posting: "Proud of my country."
England's World Cup Heartbreak Continues
England's long wait for a World Cup title continues after a 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina. The Three Lions took an early lead, but late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez ended their tournament. The match intensified the rivalry between the two nations, placing Bowers in a unique and challenging position.
Bowers' Dual Allegiance
Bowers, who played for England at youth level, has faced criticism for wearing an Argentina shirt before the game and during previous fixtures. However, she defended her actions, stating: "I grew up wearing an England shirt and had the privilege of representing England, so that connection will always be incredibly strong. But when your partner is playing in one of the biggest games of his career, naturally you want him to do well too. I'll be supporting Marcos personally while still feeling incredibly proud whenever I see England on a stage like this."
She added: "Supporting Argentina, embracing the culture in Argentina and posting on my social media wearing the Argentina shirt is something that I've been doing. And I don't really feel like there's anything wrong with that."
How They Met
Bowers met Senesi at a photoshoot shortly after joining Bournemouth. Senesi had signed for the Cherries in 2022 and later moved to Tottenham on a free transfer in summer 2026. Bowers also left Bournemouth after her contract expired in June 2026. She recalled: "We were both invited to model the club's retro kit launch at an old American-style diner on the beachfront. It was actually my first week after signing for the club, and I hadn't really met anyone yet. During the shoot we had a few group photos together, as well as a couple of shots with just the two of us. Afterwards, we started chatting on Instagram. Looking back now, it's really special that we have those photos from the very first day we met."
