England centre-back Dan Burn said he was "gutted" following the team's loss to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The defeat ends England's hopes of winning the tournament and marks a sudden collapse after the team had established an early advantage in the match.
The semi-final took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Burn expressed pride in the collective effort of the squad despite the result, but he pointed to a specific tactical failure during the game. "England were passive after taking the lead and that cost us," Burn said.
Burn's journey in the 2026 tournament included a pivotal role in the earlier stages of the competition. England previously secured a place in the quarter-finals by defeating Mexico with a score of 3-2 [1]. That specific victory took place before a crowd of approximately 90,000 spectators at Azteca Stadium [2].
Despite the heartbreak in New Jersey, Burn maintained a positive outlook on the team's overall trajectory in the U.S. "I'm gutted, but I'm proud of what we've done," Burn said.
The loss to Argentina prevents England from advancing to the final, leaving the team to reflect on a tournament that saw them overcome significant hurdles before falling at the penultimate stage.
“"England were passive after taking the lead and that cost us."”
The loss highlights a recurring struggle for the England national team in maintaining psychological and tactical momentum after securing a lead in high-stakes knockout matches. By admitting the team became 'passive,' Burn identifies a systemic failure in game management that outweighed their earlier success in the tournament, such as the victory over Mexico.
