Do England lack the all-round quality to win a major tournament?

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Thomas Tuchel previously said England's mentality was something you could bottle and sell. 

What remains beyond their reach, however, is the ability to deliver in the biggest moments.

Author | Ben A

The England head coach made the above remarks after the World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway, despite being openly critical of his side's display in the 2-1 win.

He later went further, suggesting that "it's maybe not in our DNA... to control the game and ball".

The dramatic late collapse that saw England surrender their lead against Argentina in the semi-final, denying them a first men's World Cup final since lifting the trophy at Wembley in 1966, inevitably revived familiar questions about their ability to get over the line.

This latest setback joins a growing list of painful near misses

Successive defeats in European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia have reinforced the perception that England continue to fall just short when the stakes are highest.

World Cup 2026 | England 1 - 2 Argentina England were left heartbroken as their World Cup dream came to an agonising end. supernewsaffiliate.blogspot.com/2026/07/worl...

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— Super News Affiliate (@supernews1.bsky.social) 17 July 2026 at 12:43

Commitment, resilience and a habit of producing moments of inspiration have carried England deep into major tournaments, but those qualities alone have repeatedly proved insufficient.

The collapse against Argentina now takes its place alongside six decades of frustration, another painful chapter in England's long pursuit of major tournament glory.

The places for all the best World Cup news and stories

Super News Affiliate is the place for all the best World Cup news and stories. Check out their dedicated World Cup 2026 page for a range of match reports as fans from Spain and Argentina start preparing for the finals.

You can also keep visiting us at European Super Football for more World Cup stories from a European perspective.

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