King Charles praises England squad following World Cup exit

King Charles offered his condolences to the England squad following their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina on Wednesday evening. The monarch sent an uplifting message of support to captain Harry Kane and the team as they struggled to cope with the late elimination from the international tournament.

The Daily Mail reported that the King shared his tribute on the royal family's official social media accounts after the match. "Commiserations to Harry and the team," the statement read. "While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation and will rise again." The public message followed a similar post from Prince William, who praised the team for their tournament performance. William praised the squad's fight and belief, describing them as the most complete England team in a tournament.

The King's public statement comes despite recent comments from Prince William indicating that his father has historically shown very little interest in football. Speaking on an episode of the New Heights podcast hosted by American football stars Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, the heir to the throne admitted that his family does not have a long history with the sport. William explained that his own love for the game developed during his school years because of childhood friendships rather than royal family traditions.

The devastating defeat in Atlanta brought a sudden end to England's hopes of reaching their first tournament final since 1966. Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon had initially given England the lead ten minutes into the second half. Gordon scored after connecting with a surprise delivery from midfielder Morgan Rogers, who had unexpectedly been selected in the starting line-up. However, defending champions Argentina responded late in the match when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez scored a long-range equaliser before striker Lautaro Martinez headed home the winning goal in the 92nd minute.