In a thrilling World Cup semi-final, Argentina secured a spot in the upcoming final against Spain by defeating England with two late goals. The dramatic finish saw Argentina overturn England’s lead, which had been established shortly after the break by Anthony Gordon. Despite their initial advantage, England was unable to hold off Argentina’s persistent attack in the closing minutes.
As England adopted a more defensive stance towards the end of the match, Argentina capitalized on the opportunity to increase their offensive pressure. The breakthrough came in the 86th minute when Enzo Fernández scored an equalizer, capitalizing on a short-corner play involving the ever-influential Lionel Messi. The goal set the stage for a tense finale as Argentina sought to complete their comeback.
Shortly after Fernández’s goal, Alexis Mac Allister nearly gave Argentina the lead, hitting the post before the team mounted one final offensive. With time running out, Messi delivered a precise cross into the box, where substitute Lautaro Martínez was waiting to head in the decisive goal, sealing an incredible victory for Argentina. This late surge dashed England’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 and prompted renewed scrutiny of Thomas Tuchel’s management, despite the team’s disciplined defensive efforts earlier in the game.
England’s inability to create scoring opportunities and withstand Argentina’s late momentum ultimately led to their downfall. Meanwhile, Argentina’s victory not only extended their unbeaten run in the tournament but also set up a highly anticipated final against Spain. With this win, Argentina continues to demonstrate their resilience and tactical prowess on the world stage.