We're so close to success, Kane: We're missing the last piece of the puzzle.

After failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup final, England captain Harry Kane said that the team had many exciting moments in the tournament and were even just a few steps away from success, but they were still missing the final piece of the puzzle.

In the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, Morgan Rodgers chipped a pass into the penalty area in the 55th minute of the second half, and Gordon volleyed it into the net, giving England a 1-0 lead. In the 85th minute, Argentina took a corner kick, and Messi assisted Enzo to score, leveling the score at 1-1.

In stoppage time of the second half, Messi crossed from the right wing, and Lautaro Martinez headed the ball into the net, giving Argentina a 2-1 lead. Ultimately, England lost 1-2 to defending champions Argentina, thus relegating them to the third-place match against France.

England captain Harry Kane said in an interview, "I'm really sad, I feel sorry for my teammates, the England coaching staff, and the fans who have supported us all the way. We played very well for most of the game. When we took a 1-0 lead, the team seemed to start thinking about holding on to our advantage, but that's not enough at this level of competition."

"We put in so much effort to get to this point. Every teammate gave their all, shedding sweat, blood, and tears. It's truly heartbreaking that we failed at the last hurdle."

Kane said, "Later on, it was difficult for us to continue to put pressure on them. In the first half and at the beginning of the second half, we pressed very well, especially in the attacking third, which put a lot of pressure on them and allowed us to win back possession and control the game better. After the goal, I don't know if it was because they committed more to the attack or because we couldn't contain them one-on-one, but in any case, their attacks came wave after wave, and we could only keep defending."

“No matter what stage the game went, everyone was ready. When we took the lead, the manager’s message was to continue attacking and try to score another goal. However, after they scored two goals in a row, we tried to reorganize our counterattack, but we were never able to regain our rhythm.”

Kane also said, "We have had many wonderful moments and played many exciting matches in this World Cup, and we have once again made it to the semi-finals."

"A tournament like the World Cup takes everything out of a player, whether it's physical, mental, or psychological, and it comes at a huge cost. We've shown these qualities over the past six or seven weeks, but unfortunately we're still missing the last piece of the puzzle."

Furthermore, Bellingham, who scored 6 goals for England in this World Cup, said, "My teammates have given everything they could, and I can't criticize their efforts and fighting spirit. That's life for a top footballer. The better the journey, the more heartbreaking the ending often is."

“I’m really proud of my teammates. They’ve given an outstanding performance over the past few weeks and given everything for the team. I’ve always wanted to be a part of that team that ultimately helped England achieve their dream and cross the finish line. It’s really painful to be saying these same things to the fans that they’ve been hearing for years.”

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