England fans forlorn after semifinal defeat to old foe Argentina
England fans are expressing deep disappointment after their national team lost 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semifinal. The defeat ends England's hopes of winning their first title since 1966 and sets up a final match between Argentina and Spain.
Why it matters
The World Cup is a major global cultural event, and the emotional impact on national morale and fan culture is significant.
England fans were left crestfallen after the team again failed to reach a World Cup final, with expectant hordes glued to TV screens nationwide despondent after Wednesday's semifinal loss to bitter rivals Argentina.
"I wanted to hope, but hope, it's fleeting in the end," Sean Bannon, 33, told AFP, standing bewildered outside a north London pub where he had just seen England go from leading by a goal to losing 2-1 after Argentina staged a late comeback.
Dozens of other fans had watched through windows from the street as the packed-out venue, like others across the capital, reached full capacity.
"There's a bit of bitterness there, but we've seen (defeat) before, so you know to expect it... Back to square one, I suppose," added Bannon as he disappeared into the night.
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