​Maple Leafs fans see Mitch Marner as reason England lost World Cup semifinal to Argentina originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Toronto Maple Leafs’ fanbase wondered for years why Mitch Marner couldn’t deliver in the playoffs.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThen this season with the Vegas Golden Knights, he shone brightly almost all the way to the finish line — but then disappeared late in the Stanley Cup Finals as the Carolina Hurricanes held off Vegas to hoist the Cup.This year’s journey mostly put to rest the idea of Marner as someone who shrinks in the postseason, although the ending certainly wasn’t ideal.But for the Leafs fans who only knew the Marner who was a much lesser player during playoff hockey than he was the rest of the time, they got a bit of ironic validation on Wednesday.It came from an unlikely place: the World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMarner, apparently, was wearing an England jersey on matchday to support the Three Lions.And after England held a 1-0 lead for most of the second half, Argentina stormed back with two late goals, both assisted by Lionel Messi, to break English hearts.MORE:How a 3-team Dylan Larkin, Jason Robertson trade could workThe photo was originally posted by Marner’s wife, Stephanie, who he has known since elementary school. So it’s not immediately clear where the England fandom might come from.But regardless, Leafs fans were quick to hop on the bandwagon of having a little bit more hate for Marner, even if this time it had nothing to do with hockey.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement7-foot-1 draft pick is impossibly tallCale Makar is about to become a lot more expensiveSidney Crosby trade plans did a 180 for the PenguinsIt’s time to ask a serious Matthew Knies questionOilers’ Frederik Andersen signing is a massive bargain