Fernandez mocks England with Wonderwall post after stunning goal ends World Cup run

Enzo Fernandez capped a painful night for England with a social media provocation after Argentina eliminated the Three Lions from the World Cup in Atlanta, Georgia, with Lautaro Martinez’s 92nd-minute winner sealing a comeback victory.

The Chelsea midfielder had already made himself the villain of the piece on the pitch, scoring a stunning equaliser and then celebrating by covering his ears and mimicking people talking. Off it, he posted an image to his Instagram story showing Argentina players laughing, set to Wonderwall by Oasis — the song that had become an unofficial anthem for England during the tournament, sung by players and supporters alike after previous wins. The post was deleted shortly after it was shared but had already spread widely on social media.

Argentina’s turnaround was orchestrated by Lionel Messi after England, who had taken a deserved lead through Anthony Gordon, dropped deep in an attempt to protect their advantage. That retreat invited sustained pressure, and Argentina capitalised. Coach Lionel Scaloni was candid about how his side sensed the shift. “The opponent doubted themselves a bit,” he said. “We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it.”

England manager Thomas Tuchel drew significant criticism from fans and pundits for the tactical decision to sit back, with the team’s passive second-half display widely seen as the decisive factor in their elimination.

Fernandez was not the only source of controversy in the aftermath. Chelsea’s official account on X posted an image of the midfielder celebrating, captioned “Enzo Fernandez” alongside an explosion emoji. The post drew an immediate and furious backlash — including from some of the club’s own supporters — and was subsequently deleted.

The 25-year-old’s conduct throughout the game and its aftermath is unlikely to be forgotten by England fans, who will have plenty of opportunities to remind him of it when he lines up for Chelsea in the Premier League next season.