Argentina Stuns England 2-1 to Reach World Cup Final
Defending champions Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, booking their place in Sunday’s final against Spain. Goals from Enzo Fernandez (85’) and Lautaro Martinez (90+2’) cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s opener for England, extending Argentina’s perfect record in World Cup semi-finals to six wins from six, as reported by FIFA.com.
A Tense and Fractious Affair
The semi-final lived up to its billing as a renewal of one of football’s great rivalries. The first half was a cagey, physical battle with 19 fouls and yellow cards for both sides, but neither team managed a shot on target. England made three changes from their previous starting XI, bringing in Morgan Rogers, Djed Spence, and Reece James, while Argentina made one change with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul, according to Euronews.
The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon latched onto a Reece James cross at the back post to slot home. But rather than pushing for a second, England retreated into a defensive shell, inviting wave after wave of Argentine pressure.
The Comeback
England’s decision to sit deep proved catastrophic. After England’s goal, Argentina dominated possession so completely that England managed just 12% possession from the 55th minute until Martinez’s winner in the 92nd, as noted by ABC Australia. Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves and Alexis Mac Allister hit the post, but the pressure was relentless.
In the 85th minute, Lionel Messi laid the ball off to Enzo Fernandez, who unleashed a magnificent strike from outside the box that flew past Pickford. Then, in stoppage time, Messi delivered a pinpoint cross with his right foot for substitute Lautaro Martinez to head home the winner.
“I dreamed it, I swear,” Martinez told reporters after the match, as quoted by BBC Sport. “I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score. I told him that I was going to come on and I was going to win it.”
Messi’s Record-Breaking Night
Lionel Messi provided both assists, bringing his World Cup career assist total to 12 — a new all-time record. Remarkably, 10 of those assists have come in knockout rounds. At 39 years and 21 days old, Messi also became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup semi-final, according to FIFA’s match report.
Tactical Questions for England
Thomas Tuchel’s tactics after taking the lead have drawn intense criticism. The England manager switched to a back five and brought on defensive substitutes, a decision that South American football expert Tim Vickery described as England choosing to “hang off their own cross bar like a team of bats.”
Football writer Henry Winter was scathing on BBC Radio 5 Live: “The idea of bringing Tuchel in, at vast expense, was to get England over the line and make sure they stayed on the front foot, that fear didn’t infiltrate that back line, and the substitutions were just crazy.”
Tuchel defended his approach, telling reporters: “We’re disappointed. We were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances.”
What It Means
Argentina now has a chance to win back-to-back World Cups, a feat only achieved by Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962). They will face Spain, the reigning European champions, in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday.
For England, the defeat marks another semi-final heartbreak. Harry Kane, likely playing in his last World Cup, said: “We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.” England will face France in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
The Falklands Banner Controversy
After the match, Argentina players Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso displayed a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands are Argentine), a reference to the long-standing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. FIFA’s code of conduct bans political banners in stadiums, and the governing body may issue fines after the tournament, as BBC Mundo reported.
What to Watch For
Sunday’s final promises to be a compelling clash between the world champions and the European champions. Argentina’s resilience — this was their fourth comeback victory of the tournament — will be tested against a Spain side that has been equally impressive. Can Messi add a second World Cup title to his legendary career? Or will Spain reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2010?