Why England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurt

Why England's loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurtImage source, ReutersImage caption, Jude Bellingham and his England team-mates were dejected at the full-time whistleByPhil McNultyChief football writer in AtlantaPublished2 minutes agoCommentsEngland's years of hurt will now stretch beyond 60, but the late collapse to a World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina may just be the most painful wound of all.The clock inside the magnificent Atlanta Stadium showed England were five minutes of normal time away from ending the wait for a men's World Cup final that stretches back to 1966, when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.England's players and head coach Thomas Tuchel had immortality in their hands as they led through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal.Their grasp, however, was being loosened by catastrophic decision making from Tuchel that instigated wave after wave of Argentina attacks orchestrated by Lionel Messi.One goal seemed inevitable - and it came from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute.Then, with England on the ropes, they were floored by Lautaro Martinez's injury-time header.England could not come back, so a stunned football nation wakes up to another desperate near-miss from this nearly team.Tuchel fails in England missionTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, Argentina shatter England's World Cup dreams in semi-finalTuchel's unique selling point when he succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate was the idea he would win matches his predecessor could not.That he would not be gripped by the caution Southgate was criticised for when losing the last two Euros finals to Italy and Spain, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final to Croatia.The thinking was that Tuchel would drive England over the line, whereas Southgate supposedly retreated from it.And yet, when it counted and the pressure was at its height, Tuchel produced the sort of...