England captain Harry Kane has broken his silence following the Three Lions' exit from the World Cup at the semi-final stage, expressing a profound sense of disappointment but also a commitment to future improvement.
Argentina secured their place in the final after defeating England, who had taken the lead shortly after halftime through Anthony Gordon's goal. However, late strikes from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez ultimately ended England's hopes of ending their 60-year wait for World Cup glory.
In a statement released on social media, Kane described the feeling after the loss as 'empty.' "No words are big enough right now to overcome this empty feeling in the stomach," he wrote. "We were close, really close to another final but it wasn’t enough."
Kane acknowledged the team's efforts over the past seven weeks, stating, "We’ve given everything over these last 7 weeks and to fall short is hard to take! I know the expectations are high and rightly so, we’ve been knocking on the door for 8 years now but again are missing that final piece of the jigsaw!"
The captain emphasized the need for the team to regroup and learn from the defeat. "That’s where we have to go away, process it and find a way to get better. I’m so proud of the boys and what we have shown throughout this tournament – some tough games and tough environments that we have overcome."
Despite the heartbreak, England's campaign was marked by memorable victories, including wins against Croatia, DR Congo, and Mexico.
Kane, 32, hinted at his continued commitment to the national team, writing, "Win or lose, we learn and go again." He added, "Going for glory doesn’t always mean you will get it. You have to fight for it, get knocked down, pick yourself up and go again and that’s what we will do, there’s no other way but to keep believing and keeping pushing."
He concluded by thanking the fans and his teammates and staff for their support and dedication throughout the tournament. "Thank you to every single fan that travelled and showed their support in the stadiums. Thank you to every fan back home for believing in us. Thank you to the boys and staff for everything you have given. As always Win or lose, we learn and go again!"
England are scheduled to play France in the third-place match on Saturday.
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