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Lionel Messi admitted Argentina could not afford to lose to England in the World Cup semi-final, believing defeat would have sparked unfair criticism despite the team's recent success. The captain also hailed his side's resilience after they fought back to book a second consecutive place in the final.

England icons Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney have led a scathing backlash against Thomas Tuchel following the Three Lions' devastating World Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Argentina. The German manager's decision to retreat into a defensive shell backfired spectacularly as late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 nightmare.

Thomas Tuchel accepted responsibility for England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina after a tactical switch proved costly. Despite the setback, the England boss insisted he remains committed to leading the Three Lions through to the home European Championship after receiving backing from the FA.

Every time Lionel Messi got near the ball, the crowd in Atlanta held its breath. It wouldn't take much to feel the room shift during the first hour or so of Argentina's clash with England, just a brief moment where the Argentinian icon drifted into enough space to maybe, perhaps, do something. As the game wore on, those moments became more tense. Down a goal late, the moments where the air left the crowd were less about anticipating magic and more about a potential reality setting in.