'When we went ahead, the message was to get another goal': Kane rues England retreat

Captain Harry Kane insisted England's intention was never to sit back after taking the lead against Argentina, but admitted his side were overwhelmed by a relentless surge that turned a World Cup semifinal they seemed destined to win into another chapter of tournament heartbreak.

England were within minutes of reaching their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966 after Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute strike gave Thomas Tuchel's men a deserved lead. Yet Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina responded with wave after wave of pressure before Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute and substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner in stoppage time to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.

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Messi, playing what is widely expected to be the final World Cup match of his glittering career, laid on both goals – slipping Fernandez through for the equaliser before racing down the right to deliver the cross that Martinez converted after Alexis Mac Allister's effort had rebounded off the post.

"We're gutted for the boys, gutted for everyone, the team, the staff, the fans," Kane said after the defeat.

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"We played a good game for the large majority of it. When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough. So, just gutted because we've worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, blood, sweat, tears.

"So to fall short is just gutting."

England had unsettled Argentina with an aggressive press for much of the opening hour, forcing mistakes high up the pitch and limiting the defending champions' rhythm. Gordon's opener, created by Declan Rice's incisive through ball and Morgan Rogers' cross after Nicolas Tagliafico's clearance fell kindly, appeared to reward that proactive approach.

Yet the momentum gradually shifted. Rather than refreshing tiring legs or matching Argentina's growing intensity with more adventurous changes, England increasingly retreated into their own half, allowing the Albiceleste to dominate possession and territory. Tuchel's side defended deeper and deeper as Argentina's attacks became incessant, with the equaliser feeling increasingly inevitable long before Fernandez finally struck from 20 metres.

Kane acknowledged how quickly the balance of the contest changed.

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"We struggled to get pressure on the ball. Especially first half and start of the second half.

"After the goal, whether it was them putting more men forward or us not being able to match them man for man, it was just wave after wave.

While England appeared to retreat after taking the lead, Kane insisted the message inside the camp had been the opposite.

"I don't know. When we went ahead the messaging was to go again and get another goal. Then once they scored their two goals it was to try and find something but we couldn't quite get the momentum back in the game."