Argentina's Dramatic Semifinal Win
Argentina Mounts Late Comeback to Defeat England 2-1, Advances to World Cup Final
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Key Points
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The first half was highly physical and produced no shots on goal, with the teams combining for 19 fouls and two yellow cards.
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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a crucial diving save just before the drinks break to deny Nico González and preserve England's lead temporarily.
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Pre-match atmosphere was described as raucous, with fans trying to drown out the opposing national anthem ahead of the semifinal.
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Early in the match, Leandro Paredes went in late on Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernández did likewise on Elliot Anderson, with Anderson earning the first yellow card.
Argentina beat England 2-1 in a stunning late comeback at the World Cup semifinal, securing a place in the final against Spain. England led through Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute tap-in, but Enzo Fernández curled in an equalizer from 25 yards in the 85th minute, then substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home from a Lionel Messi cross in the 92nd minute to seal it Fox Carolina.
The victory sends Argentina to the World Cup final for the second consecutive time. They will face Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19. England must now play France in the third-place match on Saturday TSN.
Messi Orchestrates Two Goals in Seven Minutes
For 85 minutes, England looked set to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. Then Lionel Messi took over. The 39-year-old set up both late goals, first feeding Fernández for a long-range curler, then crossing from the right flank for Martínez's decisive header TSN. Messi now has 21 career World Cup goals and 8 in this tournament, tied for the Golden Boot lead.
England tried to hold on by switching to a back-five defensive shape after Gordon's goal. It backfired. Coach Thomas Tuchel admitted as much after the game: "We decided to go to a back five because the gaps inside were far too open... straight after the goal, with no substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses." Argentina sensed the space and pressed until the dam broke Newsy Today.
A Brutal First Half With No Goals and 19 Fouls
Before either team could score, they had to survive each other. The opening 45 minutes produced zero shots on goal but 19 combined fouls and two yellow cards. Leandro Paredes went in late on Jude Bellingham in the 2nd minute. Enzo Fernández then fouled Elliot Anderson, with Anderson picking up the first yellow card. Referee Ismail Elfath struggled to keep control from the start.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a key one-handed diving save in the 69th minute to deny Nico González's header. That stop kept England in the lead — for 16 more minutes. The pre-match atmosphere was just as heated, with fans from both sides trying to drown out the opposing national anthem inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where 68,239 fans watched Fox Carolina.
Falklands Banner Ignites Post-Match Political Storm
Seconds after the final whistle, Argentine players paraded a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" — "The Falklands are Argentine" — on the pitch. Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were photographed smiling as they held it up. British tabloids erupted. The Mirror called it a "disgusting political act." FIFA strictly bans politically divisive banners and is expected to open a disciplinary investigation.
The Falklands dispute runs deep. Argentina and Britain fought a 74-day war over the islands in 1982, leaving 907 people dead. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul defended the display: "We sing songs about our Malvinas heroes, mainly to remember them... we always remember the fallen." Coach Lionel Scaloni tried to redirect attention: "It's a soccer match. Period. There's nothing more to it" Newsy Today.
Argentina One Win Away From Back-to-Back World Cup Titles
If Argentina beat Spain in Sunday's final, they become only the third nation ever to win back-to-back World Cups. Italy did it in 1934 and 1938. Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. No country has done it since. Spain conceded the fewest goals of any team left in the tournament, setting up a clash between the tournament's most clinical defense and its most dangerous attacker Panow.
For Messi, the final is personal. It will be his last World Cup match ever, at age 39. He will also become only the second player in history to appear in three separate World Cup finals, joining Brazil's Cafu. Argentina's manager Scaloni called suffering part of his squad's identity — this was their fourth consecutive narrow escape in the knockout rounds TSN.
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