England's journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to an end, and attention is already turning to what happens next for the Three Lions. After finishing in third place, pundits and fans alike are asking hard questions about the team's future — and whether more could have been done in the semi-final against Argentina.

BBC Sport's Football Daily podcast brought together presenter Rick Edwards and comedian Lloyd Griffith, alongside commentator Guy Mowbray and journalist Adam Crafton, to take stock of England's tournament and look ahead to the challenges on the horizon.

Questions for the future

A central theme of the discussion was England's generational shift. With established figures such as Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford, and John Stones approaching the later stages of their international careers, the panel examined who might step into those roles and what the national team could look like in the years ahead.

The semi-final defeat to Argentina drew particular scrutiny. Crafton and Mowbray weighed in on whether the tactical decisions made on the night left England short, and whether a different approach might have changed the outcome against one of the tournament's most formidable sides.

Spain v Argentina: the final awaits

With England's campaign concluded, the conversation shifted to Saturday's showpiece — Spain against Argentina. Both nations arrive at the final in strong form, and the panel previewed what promises to be a compelling contest between two of world football's most decorated nations.

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the wider New York metropolitan area also featured in the discussion, with Rick and Lloyd sharing their own experiences of how the city embraced the World Cup atmosphere — from Times Square to the cinema alongside football writer Guillem Balague, and even a memorable detour to M&M; World with former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

New York's energy around the tournament underlined just how far the World Cup's reach has grown in the United States, setting the stage for a final that the host nation and the global football community will watch with enormous anticipation.