Argentina staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 on Wednesday and secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where the defending champions will take on Spain.
England appeared destined for their first World Cup final in six decades after Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, putting Thomas Tuchel's side on course for a famous victory.
But Lionel Scaloni's men responded in stunning fashion. Enzo Fernández restored parity in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi's cross deep into stoppage time to complete a remarkable turnaround and send Argentina into Sunday's final.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced several outstanding saves to keep his side in contention as Argentina piled on relentless pressure throughout the contest. However, England's defence finally buckled in the closing moments as the South Americans snatched victory.
Messi once again proved decisive, providing the assist for the winning goal to cap another influential performance in an outstanding tournament. According to the Associated Press, Argentina will now face Spain in the championship match, while England will meet France in the third-place playoff.
The defeat was a heartbreaking one for England, who had defended resolutely for much of the match before conceding twice in the final minutes to extend their long wait for a place in the World Cup final.
Argentina's persistence ultimately paid off as Scaloni's side kept alive their quest to retain the World Cup title.
Ahead of the semifinal, England had sought to shut out external criticism and maintain unity within the squad. Reuters quoted defender Ezri Konsa as saying the players were "blocking out the noise," while Tuchel emphasised togetherness as his team prepared for the high-stakes encounter.
The clash renewed one of international football's fiercest rivalries, with a place in the World Cup final on the line. Argentina will now battle Spain for the title on Sunday, while England must regroup ahead of their bronze-medal playoff against France.
