In a thrilling World Cup semi-final, Argentina secured a spot in Sunday’s final against Spain by defeating England with two late goals. Despite taking an early lead, England’s hopes for their first World Cup final appearance since 1966 were dashed as Argentina staged a dramatic comeback.
Anthony Gordon gave England the advantage shortly after halftime with a goal, putting Thomas Tuchel’s team in a promising position. However, as the match progressed, England adopted a more defensive approach, which ultimately allowed Argentina to capitalize on their opportunities in the closing minutes.
Argentina’s persistence paid off in the 86th minute when Enzo Fernández scored the equalizer, finishing off a short-corner routine that involved Lionel Messi. The momentum continued to shift as Alexis Mac Allister hit the post, keeping England on edge.
In the dying moments of the match, Argentina launched one final offensive. Messi delivered a precise cross, which was met by substitute Lautaro Martínez, who headed the ball into the net, clinching the victory for Argentina and completing a remarkable turnaround.
The defeat has led to renewed scrutiny of England’s performance under manager Thomas Tuchel. Despite showcasing disciplined defense for most of the match, England struggled to generate offensive opportunities and failed to resist Argentina’s late surge. Argentina now advances to face Spain in the World Cup final, continuing their unbeaten streak in the tournament.