Argentina delivered a stunning comeback to defeat England in the World Cup semi-final, advancing to face Spain in the final on Sunday. The match took a dramatic turn in the closing minutes, overturning England’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966.
Thomas Tuchel’s England seemed poised for victory when Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock shortly after halftime. However, as the game progressed into its final stages, England adopted a more defensive posture, which allowed Argentina to intensify their pressure and stage a late rally.
Argentina’s persistence paid off when Enzo Fernández found the net in the 86th minute, capitalizing on a well-executed short-corner routine involving Lionel Messi. This goal set the stage for a thrilling conclusion, with Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post moments later, followed by a decisive Argentine attack.
In the dying moments, Messi delivered a precise cross into the box, and substitute Lautaro Martínez rose to head in the winning goal, sealing Argentina’s place in the final. The defeat was a bitter disappointment for England, raising new questions about their performance under Tuchel, especially given their inability to create sufficient scoring opportunities and withstand the late Argentine onslaught.
With this victory, Argentina extended their unbeaten run in the tournament and now prepare to face Spain in what promises to be an exhilarating World Cup final.