Wayne Rooney Slams England's Passive Approach in World Cup Semi-Final Loss to Argentina

England legend Wayne Rooney did not hold back in his assessment of the Three Lions' performance after their heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.

Speaking after the match, Rooney criticized England's mentality following their opening goal, insisting the team surrendered control instead of capitalizing on Argentina's pressure.

"England was panicking! You can't go 1-0 up and then surrender! You want to be on the front foot! It's Argentina who are under pressure!"

Rooney believed England failed to seize the initiative after taking the lead, allowing Argentina to dictate the tempo and grow back into the contest. Rather than pressing their advantage, England dropped deeper and invited sustained pressure from the South American giants.

Argentina eventually made England pay, completing a comeback to secure a 2-1 victory and book their place in the World Cup final against Spain.

Rooney's comments echo the frustrations of many England supporters, who felt the team became overly cautious after going ahead. With a place in the final at stake, the shift in mentality proved costly as Lionel Scaloni's side punished England's defensive approach.

The Three Lions will now turn their attention to the third-place playoff against France, while Argentina prepare for a blockbuster World Cup final against Spain.