Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen expressed disappointment with England’s performance following their 2-1 loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal in Atlanta. Pietersen noted that England allowed Argentina to dominate after initially taking the lead, leading to their defeat. Argentina’s late comeback secured their spot in the final against Spain.
Pietersen highlighted England’s strong start, with Gordon scoring to give them the lead in the second half. However, Argentina responded swiftly, with Enzo Fernandez equalizing before Lautaro Martinez’s late winner. Pietersen criticized England for losing control of the game after conceding the lead, allowing Argentina to dictate play.
Reflecting on England’s near miss, Pietersen lamented how close they came to reaching their second World Cup final. Argentina’s victory marked their second consecutive final appearance, setting up a showdown with Spain in New York New Jersey on Sunday. The defending champions maintained their impressive World Cup semifinal record, while England faced yet another semifinal defeat in their tournament history.
