Argentina produced a dramatic late turnaround to defeat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final. Lionel Scaloni’s side were trailing with only a few minutes remaining, but goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez secured a place in the final.
England and Argentina cancel each other out before half-time
The semi-final began at a high intensity, with both teams focusing heavily on physical duels and defensive discipline.
Neither side was able to establish control during a tightly contested opening period. England limited Argentina’s attacking players by closing the spaces between the lines, while the South American champions were equally effective in preventing their opponents from creating clear chances.
The aggressive nature of the match was reflected in the number of fouls. Referee Ismail Elfath awarded 19 free-kicks before the interval, although only two players received yellow cards.
Despite the intensity, neither goalkeeper was required to make a save in the first half. Argentina struggled to break through England’s organised defensive structure, while Thomas Tuchel’s team failed to offer a serious threat at the opposite end.
The teams therefore went into the break with the score still 0-0.
Anthony Gordon puts England ahead
Argentina became more adventurous after the restart and began to move the ball forward with greater urgency.
Julian Alvarez registered two of their first dangerous attempts, but neither effort was enough to beat Jordan Pickford. England then punished their opponents in the 55th minute.
Morgan Rogers delivered a precise cross into the penalty area, where Anthony Gordon reacted before the Argentine defenders and converted the chance. His goal placed England within reach of their first World Cup final since 1966.
Argentina responded immediately and started applying sustained pressure. Giovanni Simeone appeared to have an opportunity shortly after Gordon’s opener, but Djed Spence made an important defensive intervention.
Nico Gonzalez then tested Pickford with a header, but the England goalkeeper was well positioned to keep his team ahead.
The pressure continued to build. Alexis Mac Allister came closest to scoring in the 75th minute when his shot struck the post, leaving Argentina increasingly frustrated.
England gradually dropped deeper and focused almost entirely on protecting their narrow advantage. That approach allowed Scaloni’s players to dominate possession and keep the opposition trapped near their own penalty area.
Enzo Fernandez gives Argentina hope
Argentina’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 85th minute. Messi received possession outside the penalty area before finding Enzo Fernández in space. The Chelsea midfielder decided to shoot from distance and produced a powerful effort that Pickford could not stop.
The equaliser completely changed the atmosphere of the match. Argentina immediately pushed for a second goal rather than preparing for extra time.
England looked increasingly vulnerable as their defensive shape began to collapse under pressure. The momentum was now entirely with the reigning champions.
Mac Allister came close once again in stoppage time, hitting the post for the second time in the match. However, Argentina kept the attack alive and quickly regained possession.
Messi then delivered the decisive pass to Lautaro Martínez, who remained composed inside the penalty area and converted the chance to make it 2-1.
England had no time to produce a meaningful response. Argentina protected their advantage until the final whistle and completed one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament.
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Lionel Messi delivers in the decisive moments
Messi had been closely monitored for much of the match and was often prevented from receiving the ball in dangerous areas. However, the Argentina captain once again made the difference when the pressure was at its highest. His pass to Fernández created the equaliser, while his assist for Martínez directly produced the winning goal.
The two assists underlined his continued importance to Scaloni’s system. Even when Messi is unable to dominate an entire match, his vision and decision-making can still decide the outcome within seconds.
Argentina’s late recovery also demonstrated the mentality that helped them win the previous World Cup. Rather than panicking after falling behind, they gradually increased the pressure and continued searching for openings.
Argentina to face Spain in the World Cup final
Argentina will meet Spain in the World Cup final after Luis de la Fuente’s side defeated France 2-0 in the other semi-final.
The match will give the Albiceleste the chance to retain the trophy they won four years earlier. Another victory would further strengthen the legacy of Messi and a generation that has already enjoyed extraordinary international success.
Spain, however, will enter the final in excellent form after eliminating France without conceding. Their technical quality and control of possession will present Argentina with a very different challenge from the physical and defensively organised England team.
England will now face France in the third-place play-off. The defeat will be particularly painful for Tuchel’s players, who were only minutes away from reaching the final before conceding twice in a dramatic closing period.