What happened
England crashed out of the World Cup after conceding twice in the closing minutes of their semi-final against Argentina to lose 2-1.

Thomas Tuchel’s side looked to have the nation on course for a place in its first Cup final since 1966 when Anthony Gordon finished from close range 10 minutes into the second half. But Argentina mounted a sustained assault after going behind, with Enzo Fernández levelling in the 86th minute before substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner in stoppage time.

Who said what
It was “supposed to be different”, but “Argentina showed intent, while Tuchel showed fear”, said Jacob Steinberg in The Guardian. In a bid to protect England’s lead, Tuchel had switched to a back five, but that “negativity was lamentable” and it was “no surprise when punishment arrived”.

Tuchel’s “abysmal” defensive decision backfired, said Will Schofield in the Daily Star. “Thomas tanked,” agreed The Sun.

What next?
England will face France in the third place play-off match on Saturday. Argentina, meanwhile, will take on Spain in Sunday’s final after extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.

What happened
The UK government has launched a campaign – “Know the Signs” – to help raise awareness of the dangers of methanol poisoning, in conjunction with family members of victims.

Methanol is a toxic industrial-strength form of alcohol sometimes found in counterfeit alcoholic drinks. Symptoms of its ingestion include loss of balance, vomiting and blindness, but as little as 30ml – roughly a single shot – can be fatal.

Who said what
Calum MacDonald experienced a “blinding kaleidoscopic light” after drinking in a bar in Laos, leading to permanently impaired vision. Tourists should “enjoy your travel”, he said, but be sure to “have all the information at hand” and “mitigate those risks”.

Most people think “it’s a hangover, and I’ll just curl up in bed”, said Margaret McKie, whose daughter Kirsty died from methanol poisoning in Bali. But the campaign’s message is clear: if something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to go to hospital as quickly as possible. “You could save a life,” added McKie.

“No one expects a holiday to end in tragedy,” said Minister for Consular Hamish Falconer. But methanol poisoning can be “devastating”. Travellers should drink from reputable venues and purchase sealed drinks where possible.

What next?
British tourists should check the latest travel advice before their departure, and see if their destination is one of 29 countries that carry methanol poisoning warnings.

Australia and Fiji have agreed to a new alliance, the latest in a series of regional pacts that could significantly alter the Pacific’s defence landscape.

In a “surprise move”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka elevated diplomatic ties between the two countries to a “formal treaty”, said The Guardian. The Ocean of Peace Alliance – which will be open to other Pacific nations to join – aims to bolster regional security and “limit China’s influence”.

For 75 years Australia had just two formal alliances – with the US and New Zealand under the ANZUS Treaty, signed in 1951. But recently it has been “racing to shore up defence ties with its Pacific neighbours”, said the BBC, to counter China’s “military expansion”.

Last October, Canberra signed a defence deal with Papua New Guinea – the most populous South Pacific nation – granting it access to PNG’s military facilities and troops.

This latest Australia-Fiji pact – which sits alongside the complementary Vuvale Union, focused heavily on economic integration – is more significant than previous deals because it includes a mutual defence agreement, committing each country to come to the other’s aid should there be the threat of an armed attack. It also offers closer military cooperation, including planning, exercises and intelligence sharing.

Hours after the pact was signed, China test-launched a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean. Beijing described it as “routine”, part of the country’s annual military programme, but the launch provoked an angry response in Canberra, which accused China of destabilising the region. Ultimately, the test “underscored the need for Pacific Island countries to collectively think through their defence and security arrangements”, said The Conversation.