Crying Jude Bellingham is consoled by his parents and WAG Ashlyn Castro after England's World Cup semi-final heartbreak

England's World Cup campaign came to an abrupt end last night with a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta, leaving fans and players in shock. Jude Bellingham, the 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder, fought back tears as he was comforted by his family and girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, after the final whistle.

The match itself was incredibly attritional, with 19 fouls committed in the first half, as American referee Ismail Elfath struggled to keep a lid on things. Bellingham had become embroiled in a heated altercation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco in the moments after the final whistle. Barco, 21, had run onto the pitch after Enzo Fernandez's 85th-minute equaliser and celebrated in front of the England players rather than joining his team-mates by the corner flag. This sparked a brief melee involving players from both sides.

Bellingham, who had become embroiled in a heated altercation with Barco, was comforted by his family and girlfriend in the stands. His father, Mark Bellingham, and mother, Denise Bellingham, were seen embracing their son as he wiped away tears. Bellingham's girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, 28, was also spotted sitting alongside him, appearing visibly downcast by the afternoon's events. The pair were joined by Bellingham's father and mother in the stands after the final whistle.

In his post-match interview, Bellingham expressed his disappointment at not being able to lead England to victory. "I think we can take a lot from the experience, but it's so gutting," he said. "I wanted to be a part of an England squad that had finally done it, finally got it over the line. And to be here telling the fans unfortunately the same things that they've probably heard for years and years, it's really gutting." Bellingham's words echoed the sentiment of many England fans, who had been hoping for a World Cup victory.

The match itself was marred by controversy, with Argentina's players celebrating with a banner that read: 'The Malvinas (Falklands) are ours.' This has led to calls for the players involved to face disciplinary action from FIFA. Despite FIFA's ban on political flags, Tottenham captain Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, and ex-Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso celebrated with the controversial sign after the final whistle. FIFA has yet to comment, but the governing body is under huge pressure to punish Argentina for flouting its rules.

The defeat marks the end of England's World Cup campaign, but it also raises questions about the future of the team. With many of the current players nearing the end of their careers, there is a need for fresh talent to emerge and take the reins. The next step for England will be to regroup and assess their performance in the World Cup. With a new tournament just around the corner, there will be no shortage of opportunities for the team to bounce back and make a strong impression.