England’s hopes of ending their long wait for a men’s FIFA World Cup triumph came to a heartbreaking end after Argentina produced a stunning late comeback to win 2-1 in an intense semi-final in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked on course for their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966 after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half. Morgan Rogers, rewarded with a place in the starting lineup, delivered a superb cross from the right for Gordon to finish at the far post.
The match had already been played at a frantic pace, with a heated atmosphere inside Atlanta Stadium reflected on the pitch. American referee Ismail Elfath struggled to contain the physical contest, with numerous fouls disrupting the opening 45 minutes. Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez came closest before the break with a powerful long-range effort that narrowly missed the target.
England’s lead sparked a fierce response from the defending champions. Jordan Pickford produced an outstanding reflex save to deny Nico Gonzalez before Alexis Mac Allister struck the post as Argentina piled on the pressure.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute when Fernandez unleashed a superb 25-yard strike beyond Pickford to level the match. Argentina continued to dominate the closing stages, with Mac Allister hitting the woodwork again before Lionel Messi delivered the decisive moment in stoppage time. The 39-year-old’s cross with his right foot found Lautaro Martinez, who headed home in the 92nd minute to complete the dramatic turnaround.
England’s collapse echoed previous tournament disappointments, as a promising position slipped away after Tuchel’s side retreated deeper into their own half. The head coach strengthened his defence by introducing Ezri Konsa for goalscorer Gordon with 18 minutes remaining before also sending on Dan Burn, but the tactical changes handed Argentina control of the match.
Unable to relieve the relentless pressure, England spent much of the closing stages defending inside their own penalty area before finally conceding twice in the final minutes. It was another painful exit for the Three Lions, who had been within touching distance of a place in Sunday’s final.
Messi, largely kept quiet for much of the contest, once again proved decisive when it mattered most. He played a key role in Fernandez’s equaliser before creating the winner for Martinez, helping Argentina maintain their unbeaten run at the tournament.
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final as they bid to defend the title they won four years ago. The showdown will also pit Messi against Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal, while England will take on France in the third-place play-off.