​England fans have said they are “proud” of the team despite the defeat against Argentina.Thousands of fans across the North West packed out venues with big screens to watch the second semi-final of the World Cup 2026 on Wednesday night.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite Thomas Tuchel’s side taking the lead shortly after half time, with a goal from Anthony Gordon, Argentina responded by scoring two goals – dashing hopes of the World Cup final including England.Stacey Mundy from Winsford, watched the match at Blakemere Village. “Four years, we’ll be back,” she said, adding England had “genuinely done us proud”.About 350 fans gathered at The Big Barn in Blakemere Village in Northwich, Cheshire which hosted a big screen for all fans including families.Alex Booth, 20, from Northwich found it a stressful watch but said: “I’m so proud of England.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”What happens, happens but we have got to be proud.”England fan Alex Booth said he was really proud of England’s World Cup journey [Angela Ferguson/BBC]Co-owner of Blakemere Village Debra Gerrard said she was “really heartbroken and devastated” by the result but she was proud of her team and of the atmosphere in The Big Barn.She said they “went in with the aspiration” but “obviously it wasn’t our day”.About 350 fans have packed into The Big Barn at Blakemere Village, near Northwich [Angela Ferguson/BBC]Debra said she enjoyed seeing hundreds of fans coming together to watch the game, despite supporting different local teams.Co-owner Timothy Gerrard said: “It’s such a shame to end like that but it unifies the country.”He said England’s performance had been “first class”, and added “they have done so well”.Family and friends Rachel Kidd, Jakki Allison, Ed Calderhead, Pauline Calderhead, Holly Smith and Susan Jenkins [Angela Ferguson/BBC]Susan Jenkins, who watched the game with her family and friends said: “We’re proud of them. We really are.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPauline Calderhead, who went along with her son Ed and her friends, said she was “absolutely gutted” and “really sad”.Elsewhere in the North West, 9,000 fans gathered at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl, where the venue hosted a screening.Fans could be seen with their heads in their hands and in disbelief on the final whistle.Thousands of fans watched the drama at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl [PA Media]England last reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, when they were beaten 2-1 by Croatia in Moscow.Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic scored the winning goal in the 109th minute.The World Cup final which will see Argentina play Spain will take place on Sunday 19 July.Fans at the Castlefield Bowl nervously watched as England bowed out of the World Cup after leading 1-0 [PA Media]Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.Fan has huge £550 tattoo declaring E