World Cup 2026: Which England players stepped up and who shied away from the pressure in semi-final defeat to Argentina

England's World Cup journey came to a rather dramatic end against Argentina and their exit has led to one very simple question: why?

A lot of the blame has gone towards the decision to retreat after Anthony Gordon's goal just before the hour mark. The switch to the back five invited pressure, and Thomas Tuchel's side simply couldn't hold on.

However, the one thing the England boss has maintained throughout the tournament is that there can be no doubting the players' mentality. The game in Atlanta seemed to bring that into question.

England were already defending before the change in formation. Players were succumbing to the environment they were in. Not all, but some. Who managed to find another gear when their country needed them most? And who failed to deliver in a game of such magnitude?

It may be hard to do this considering the overwhelming feeling of disappointment, but let's start with the positives.