England have one more game at the 2026 World Cup, but it's the match no-one wants to play – the third-fourth play-off for the semi-final losers. In the immediate aftermath of England's painful 2-1 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday night, chief football writer John Cross and host Harry Brent dissected all the fallout and reaction outside the Atlanta stadium on the Make Football Great Again podcast.
Analysis of England's Semi-Final Defeat
John gives his damning verdict on Thomas Tuchel's tactics as well as his view of how England succumbed to the magic of Lionel Messi. He also gives his player ratings, including a trio of underwhelming 5/10s. The defeat leaves England with the unenviable task of playing for third place, a match widely regarded as the one no team wants to participate in.
Podcast Coverage and Further Reading
Watch or listen – if you can take it – and keep following for more episodes right through to Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. Further reading includes pieces on the match, Tuchel's tactics, player ratings, and fan reactions.
- 'I watched England with hundreds of Argentinians – I pretended I was Scottish to avoid trouble'
- 'Tuchel got it wrong' - England suffer World Cup agony as Argentina come from behind to reach final
- England player ratings vs Argentina as 5/10 trio struggle in heartbreaking World Cup defeat
- Thomas Tuchel to STAY as England boss despite 'cowardly' World Cup semi-final defeat
- 'I watched as England fans left stadium in tears after devastating World Cup heartbreak'
- Thomas Tuchel bottled it and FAILED his players - but FA must take portion of blame
- Should Thomas Tuchel stay on as England boss? Take our poll and have your say
