Feeling gutted? Five ways to cope with England's World Cup defeat

Image source, GettyImages Image caption, Football heartache can take days or even weeks to get over, say fans By Maia Davies & Emma Rossiter Published 15 minutes ago England are out of the World Cup after Argentina's dramatic comeback to beat them 2-1 in the semi-finals. Harry Kane and the team took the lead early in the second half in Atlanta, but could not hang on. As fans reel from the painful defeat, here are some tips for coping with the dashed hopes of a place in the final. Recognise the sting Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Football fans often feel the pain of a loss more acutely than the delight of a win Losing at football can cause more of a sting than in other sports, says Dr Martha Newson from the University of Greenwich. "Few people are going to cry and get upset about whoever loses Wimbledon," explains the behavioural scientist. "Football is different… we talk about the national team like it's us out there." For supporter Oli Portlock, an England loss feels like a "national funeral… a big grey cloud over the nation when England's been knocked out". The 27-year-old recalls the "absolute heartbreak" of England's defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. "It certainly ruined the next week in work for me." Recognising the feeling of pain is an important step, says Dr David Crepaz-Keay from the Mental Health Foundation. But don't get too worried, he says, because the emotional dip "typically fades within a couple of hours". So if you feel like you are wallowing in misery, ride it out and tell yourself it's just part of the process. Focus on the wins Image source, Getty Images "For me, it's probably trying to reflect on all the great memories I've created throughout the tournament," says Oli, who followed England from his hometown of Preston to the US. Disappointed fans might lift their spirits by rewatching Harry Kane bring England back from the brink against DR Congo, or Jude Bellingham score twice in 98 seconds against Mexico to help clinch a spot in the quarter-finals. Or it might be memories of staying up that extra hour after severe storms prompted a 02:00 BST kick-off, or crowding into packed pubs during a record-breaking heatwave to catch the earlier games. Oli suggests listening to music that reminds you of the successes - Wonderwall for this year or Sweet Caroline for Euro 2020 - rather than focusing on the disappointment. England fan Jayne Howells, 54, agrees, and cautions against trying to find mistakes or ascribe blame in anger. "A lot of these players… they're going to be gutted as well. It's not about knocking them down, but saying they actually did really well. That's how you make a stronger team." Crepaz-Keay advises fans to "see the funny side where you can" and remember "the things that went well". 'The perfect football song': Why England fans and players love Wonderwall Published 4 days ago Talk it out Image source, Reuters The first few hours after the loss will be the worst, Crepaz-Keay says.