​Worst England World Cup heartbreaks: Where devastating Argentina loss ranks among most disappointing results originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For 60 years, the English have declared that the World Cup trophy — sport’s greatest-ever ornament — is returning to the shores that birthed the beautiful game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd for 60 years, that pilgrimage has been delayed. England is one of the world’s most preeminent footballing nations. But that hasn’t been borne out in international competition, specifically the World Cup.From penalty shootout heartbreak to brutal collapses, the Three Lions have suffered defeats in the most unusual of ways over the past 60 years. Here’s an exhaustive look at their most sorrowful World Cup results, a list that got that much larger with their meltdown against Argentina.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Updated World Cup bracketPerhaps there’s a hint of hindsight in this result. Argentina and England looked equals for most of the contest, with the Three Lions’ pace proving especially effective in transition opportunities. That brought about England’s greatest moment — Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike sent the Three Lions faithful, both in attendance and abroad, into raptures.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThen, Thomas Tuchel called on his players to sit off, allowing Argentina — spearheaded by the best player to ever traipse on grass — to camp outside of England’s penalty area.The Three Lions huffed and puffed, benefitting from timely interventions by Djed Spence and Jordan Pickford. But the dam would soon break in the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez whipped a curling effort from distance into the corner of the net.Seven minutes later, it was Lautaro Martinez who wheeled into the corner, having hammered Messi’s deft right-footed cross past Pickford with his head.Tuchel’s tactics proved costly and robbed England of a prime chance to return to the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years. While the Argentines were certainly a daunting proposition, the nature of the Three Lions’ collapse makes this the most devastating in England’s World Cup history.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Odds, spread for Spain vs. Argentina World Cup finalPrintable World Cup bracketWorld Cup prize money breakdownEngland has a checkered history in World Cup penalty shootouts. The Three Lions are a measly 1-3 when the knockout matches advance to spot kicks, with their lone win coming in the Round of 16 vs. Colombia.The first of those three defeats came at Italia 1990. The Three Lions brushed the net with each of their opening three strikes, only to see Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle miss the target.No defeat is as agonizing as one that comes in a penalty shootout. The origins of England’s spot kick meltdown are hazy. But it’s hard to imagine the results of the 1990