Harry Kane Calls England's World Cup Loss to Argentina His Hardest Blow Yet
Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has opened up about England's heartbreaking exit from the 2026 World Cup after their semi-final loss to Argentina. The Three Lions captain described it as the toughest moment of his international career, saying the team didn't feel like themselves during that match.
World Cup Disappointment Still Felt Deeply
Nearly ten weeks after their semi-final defeat, England is regrouping under manager Thomas Tuchel, focusing on the upcoming Nations League and building toward Euro 2028. Despite this, the sting of losing to Argentina at MetLife Stadium remains fresh. Kane even avoided watching the final, choosing instead to play golf while Spain and Argentina competed for the trophy.
Kane: "It Just Didn't Feel Like Us"
At 33, Kane has faced many close calls on the international stage, but he says this loss ranks above all, including his missed penalty against France in Qatar. He said,
"I've been to finals and semifinals before. Each one hurts differently. This one hurt more than any other—probably even more than missing that penalty in Qatar because of how it happened."
The striker expressed frustration over what he saw as a tactical and mental retreat by the team. "It just felt like it wasn’t us," he added. "Not the team we wanted to be or said we’d be. Sometimes when you go against your beliefs and lose, it hurts ten times worse."
Using the Setback to Prepare for Euro 2028
Kane wants honest conversations within the squad about their struggles against top teams in later tournament stages. He believes learning to keep their identity under pressure will be key moving forward.
"We haven’t quite managed that against the bigger nations in late tournament games," Kane said. "It could be down to personalities, mentality, or just how we want to play in those moments."
He sees the Nations League as a crucial opportunity to build confidence and momentum ahead of the Euros.
"Some think the Nations League isn’t important, but after such a long trophy drought, winning something with England could really launch us into the Euros," Kane urged his teammates.
England Faces Spain Amid Fitness Challenges
England’s next challenge comes on Saturday at Wembley against Spain. This match carries extra significance since Spain beat England in the last European Championship final and went on to reach the World Cup final.
The squad is dealing with several injuries and withdrawals, which have disrupted preparations. Kane, who previously criticized late withdrawals in 2024, has taken a more understanding stance this time. Considering the grueling Premier League schedule compared to his own winter break in Germany, he trusts his teammates to manage their fitness wisely.
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A
- Match: England vs Spain
- Date & Time: 26 Sept 2026, 21:45
