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England’s hopes of finally ending their long World Cup drought were dashed once again, as Thomas Tuchel’s side surrendered a lead to lose 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. The defeat extended England’s wait for a first World Cup final appearance since 1966, with Tuchel’s conservative tactics ultimately proving costly.

In the early stages, Tuchel’s team selection seemed to be working. A surprise inclusion, Morgan Rogers, provided the assist for Anthony Gordon to open the scoring just 10 minutes into the second half. However, England’s negative approach throughout the first period — one of the dullest halves of football in recent tournament memory — came back to haunt them as Argentina relentlessly pushed forward.

Tuchel’s substitutions only deepened England’s problems. Removing Gordon for Ezri Konsa, followed by the introductions of Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly in a defensive reshuffle, left the team overly cautious and without attacking intent. The defensive mindset invited pressure, and it was only a matter of time before Argentina capitalised.

Enzo Fernandez equalised with a superb strike from outside the box shortly after Alexis Mac Allister had rattled the post with a header. Mac Allister hit the woodwork again in stoppage time, but Argentina’s persistence paid off seconds later when Lionel Messi’s precise right-footed cross found substitute Lautaro Martinez, who nodded home the decisive goal.

Here’s how the England players rated in Atlanta:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (5/10): Despite Argentina’s dominance in possession, Pickford had little to do for much of the match. He made a couple of strong saves, including one from Nico Gonzalez, but could do nothing about Fernandez’s strike or Messi’s inch-perfect cross.

Reece James (7/10): Restored to the starting XI after his impressive cameo against Norway, James delivered a composed and disciplined performance before being substituted late on.

John Stones (5/10): The defender made several crucial interceptions in the closing stages but lost track of Lautaro Martinez for the winning goal, undoing much of his earlier good work.

Marc Guehi (6/10): Like Stones, Guehi fought hard to repel Argentina’s attacks and remained composed under pressure, though he couldn’t prevent either goal.

Djed Spence (7/10): Justified his selection over O’Reilly with a confident display. His standout moment came when he executed a vital sliding tackle to deny Giovanni Simeone a clear shot on goal.

Midfield

Declan Rice (7/10): The Arsenal midfielder, who had been a doubt due to illness, showed no lingering effects. He provided energy and stability in midfield, assisting in the build-up to Gordon’s goal and even testing Argentina’s keeper with a rare shot on target.

Elliot Anderson (5/10): The youngster got caught up in the physical battles early on, earning a booking for a rash challenge on Messi before half-time. His work rate was commendable, but he struggled to ease the pressure on England’s defence in the closing stages.

Jude Bellingham (5/10): The Real Madrid star wasn’t intimidated by Argentina’s attempts to disrupt England’s rhythm, making purposeful runs and drawing fouls. However, he failed to take control of the game and grew increasingly frustrated, clashing with Messi late on.

Attack

Morgan Rogers (7/10): A surprise starter on the right flank, Rogers justified Tuchel’s gamble by setting up Gordon’s opener with a fine cross. He remained one of England’s few bright sparks in attack.

Harry Kane (4/10): The captain had a forgettable night. Although his long pass initiated the move that led to England’s goal, he posed no real threat and never looked close to scoring.

Anthony Gordon (7/10): Worked tirelessly down the left and was rewarded with the biggest goal of his career following a clever run behind Nahuel Molina. His substitution with 18 minutes left proved a turning point as England lost their attacking outlet.

Substitutes & Manager

Ezri Konsa (5/10): Introduced for Gordon to protect the lead, but his arrival coincided with England losing their attacking shape and momentum.

Dan Burn (N/A): Came on for James with eight minutes remaining but was forced into an unfamiliar forward role as the team chased the game late on.

Nico O’Reilly (N/A): Entered alongside Burn, replacing Rice, and offered little impact in England’s collapsing structure.

Marcus Rashford (N/A): Brought on deep into stoppage time with minimal opportunity to influence proceedings.

Ivan Toney (N/A): Another late substitution made in desperation, with no time to make an impression.

Thomas Tuchel (3/10): Tuchel’s initial plan nearly worked, with Rogers and Spence both vindicating their inclusion. Yet his overly defensive substitutions cost England dearly. Once Argentina equalised, the outcome felt inevitable. Serious questions will now be asked about whether the German coach will remain in charge.