SPORTS
‘England’s Defeat is Not End Of World’
England’s performance against Argentina was scrappy and frustrating.
They were inaccurate in their handling and, not for the first time, one-dimensional in their tactical thinking.
But, there has to be some balance and perspective.
The defeat by the Pumas is not the end of the world.
It may even help the team’s trajectory towards the rest of the autumn, the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup next year.You could see from the start that England had a set idea about how the game was going to be played and the best way to win it.
They had seen the wet conditions and opted for low-risk rugby with the ball in hand. They trucked the ball up around the fringe with one-out runners, making use of their heavy-duty carriers.
Number eight Billy Vunipola had 15 carries, more than any other player. Prop Kyle Sinckler was not far behind on 12.
But it seemed to be an end in itself, rather than being used to open up space elsewhere.
Argentina’s team were perfectly suited to soaking up the wave of power attacks, with the likes of Marcos Kremer and Pablo Matera excellent.
There was plenty of ball and go forward, but England were inaccurate and lateral when it came to exploiting gaps elsewhere.
There was never a sniff of an overlap, you never felt the excitement of a wing being able to take on his opposite number.
That is at odds with how the club game has been going in the Premiership. Teams like Northampton, Saracens or Harlequins are ruthless at finding chinks in defences and making it count on the scoreboard.
If England were not going to be adventurous with the ball, it would have been better to play without it.
When they found they weren’t building enough of a cushion on the scoreboard, England could have switched up their kicking game.
Instead of looking to compete and regain the ball, they could have sacrificed possession for territory, kicked deep and asked Argentina if they could play out from deep in their half with a greasy ball.
That would create the chances for turnovers and penalties within sight of the line.
But, not for the first time, there was an inability to take the initiative and read the flow of the match mid-game.
England didn’t seem to be able to recognise the pressure they were coming under from the opposition and find a solution. They seemed to be waiting for instruction rather than taking the game by the scruff of the neck.
They had control of the game, but not the scoreboard and they sleepwalked into a dangerous situation where they were vulnerable to a lapse in concentration or a purple patch from the Pumas.
Coach Eddie Jones has talked about building resilience and adaptability. In September he visited US Navy Seals to learn about how they react to the unexpected and still get missions accomplished.
His England team still has some way to go on that.
Collectively it was a disappointing day, the result dictated that, but individually I think there were plus points.
Wing Joe Cokanasiga was the stand-out in the backs. He was busy, hungry for the ball, broke the line and linked well with his team-mates.
Debutant Alex Coles was dynamic and ran good, clever lines to get past that tight Argentine defence. His kick-off gathering was messy, but that was true of his team in general.
Overall it was a wake-up call to England. Mentally they didn’t look switched on enough, they were short of urgency and intensity.
This week, vice captain Ellis Genge has promised some “uncomfortable conversations” are going to take place ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Japan.
The Brave Blossoms will be another tricky opponent, New Zealand and South Africa will represent a step up.
At points in the game on Sunday, England looked like they needed someone inside the team to give them a verbal ‘kick up the backside’ to clear their heads and get them thinking clearly.
That defeat will have done the job just as well.
I’m not writing England off for this autumn, never mind the Six Nations or Rugby World Cup next year.
Matt Dawson was speaking to BBC Sport’s Mike Henson
By David Torough, Abuja
Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in a tense and dramatic final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
Substitute Ferran Torres emerged as Spain’s hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand La Roja their second FIFA World Cup title, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010.
The final remained goalless through regulation time despite Spain dominating possession and creating the better chances.
Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to frustrate Luis de la Fuente’s side and keep the holders in contention.Argentina’s task became even more difficult in stoppage time of the second half when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, reducing Lionel Messi’s side to 10 men for extra time.
Spain eventually made their numerical advantage count when Nico Williams brilliantly kept Pedro Porro’s cross alive before laying the ball into the path of Torres, who fired beyond Martínez to spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.
The victory capped a remarkable campaign for Spain, who conceded just one goal in seven matches while eliminating Portugal, Belgium, France and Argentina on their way to lifting football’s biggest prize.
For Argentina, the defeat ended their bid to successfully defend the title won in Qatar. Messi, making what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance, could not inspire a comeback as the South Americans struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the contest.
Tempers flared after the final whistle, with players from both sides involved in a brief confrontation following the highly physical encounter.
Spain’s triumph also saw them make history as the first nation to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup titles, underlining their dominance in world football and marking a new golden era for Spanish football.
Kylian Mpappe said he and his France teammates did not perform well to progress to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final after their 2-0 defeat against Spain on Tuesday.
France went into the game as the favorite but Didier Deschamps’ men were completely outplayed by a better tactical and technical Spain.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured Spain’s spot in the World Cup Final, since the last time they won the tournament in South Africa 2010.
Luis de la Fuente’s men completely dominated France, restricting them to just two shots on target all game.
France had scored 16 goals before the game but Spain rendered Mbappe and his co-attackers ineffective on Tuesday.Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe described the French team’s performance as disappointing and not worthy of a final spot.
“We did not produce the performance we wanted, tactically, technically or in terms of our overall level,” Mbappe said.
“When you fail to do what you are supposed to do in a World Cup semi-final, you do not win.
“Spain stuck to their plan and to what they believe in. There was a lack of communication in our pressing, even when we won possession back, our first passes and first touches were not worthy of a World Cup semi-final,” he added.
After the game, France coach Didier Deschamps said his team lost to a better team.
“The players are devastated, but we have to be clear-headed: technically, we were second best. That is on us.”
Pedro Porro who scored the second goal for Spain said the victory is a dream come true for him, and added that his side did everything right against a brilliant team.
“A dream come true to be honest. I never even imagined anything like this, not even in my wildest dreams,” Porro said.
“We did everything right against a team that was having a brilliant World Cup,” he added.
Spain will discover their final opponents on Wednesday when England face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s final.
Two-time World Cup champions France will on Tuesday take on Spain, the reigning European champions and 2010 FIFA World Cup champions, in a match dubbed the “Clash of the Titans.”
It is the first semi-final fixture and one of the most anticipated match-ups of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
France is aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, led by the attacking prowess of Captain Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé, as expected, has dominated the tournament, taking his performances to another level as he leads the scoring chart with eight goals and three assists.
He is a force to be reckoned with, and his brilliance has inspired teammates such as Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.
Together with Michael Olise, they have tormented opposing defences and given French fans the belief that 2026 could be their year.
France has been one of the standout teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
They reached the semi-finals with an unbeaten run and have looked strong in both attack and defence.
They defeated Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1 to finish top of their group with three wins from three matches.
In the Round of 32, France beat Sweden 3-0 before edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, with Mbappé converting a penalty.
In the quarter-finals, they defeated tournament favourites Morocco 2-0, thanks to goals from Mbappé and Dembélé, to advance to the semi-finals.
Mbappé and Dembélé have been among the tournament’s most dangerous attacking players.
Together, they have scored 13 goals, matching a World Cup record for a pair of teammates.
France’s next challenge is a blockbuster semi-final against Spain, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
Similarly, Spain, the reigning European champions, have impressed with their possession-based football and the emergence of young stars such as Lamine Yamal.
While France has been the tournament’s highest-scoring side, Spain has combined strong defensive performances with midfield dominance.
Spain has also been one of the standout teams at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010.
They finished top of Group H, defeating Uruguay 1-0, thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and playing out a goalless draw against a resilient Cabo Verde side.
They maintained their impressive form by crushing Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32.
They defeated Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 1-0 in a keenly contested and thrilling Round of 16 encounter, courtesy of a late winner from Mikel Merino.
Spain eliminated Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with Merino once again scoring the decisive late goal.
So far, Spain has conceded only one goal on the way to the semi-finals, making them one of the tournament’s strongest defensive teams.
They joined Argentina, France and England as the four top-ranked nations to reach the semi-finals, marking a historic first since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced.
Spain’s clash against the highly rated France promises to be a fascinating semi-final, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
It is expected to be a mouth-watering tactical battle between France’s pace on the counter-attack and Spain’s patient possession game.
Meanwhile, as football fans across the globe eagerly await the encounter, supporters in Lagos are equally excited.
Femi Oshisami, a trader, said he was confident Spain would eliminate France because of his passion for Spanish football, which he considers superior to the French style.
He believes Spain is hungry for another major title after winning the current European Championship and looks capable of repeating the feat at the World Cup.
“It is going to be very explosive, a match to behold, and I am confident Spain will win at the end,” Oshisami said.
Similarly, Emeka Chukwura said he is a big fan of Mbappé and believes France is unstoppable because the team possesses the quality to break down any opposition in the competition.
“I have my money on France. They have a great team with players of different qualities who are basically world-class.
“They are aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the final, which is a credit to their hard work and consistency,” Chukwura said.
In the same vein, Yussuf Tijani, a shoe cobbler, said the World Cup has been very interesting and highly competitive.
He said he was heartbroken when the African teams were eliminated but still supports France because of the presence of players of African descent in the squad.
“I believe France will beat Spain to reach the final. They are a good team and have the capability to handle any kind of pressure,” Tijani said.
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