Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to defeat England 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup semi-final, with Lautaro Martínez heading home the winner in stoppage time.
England’s hopes of reaching their first FIFA World Cup final since 1966 were shattered by a stunning late Argentina comeback in Atlanta.
Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute, putting Thomas Tuchel’s side within touching distance of Sunday’s final. However, Enzo Fernández equalised with five minutes of regular time remaining before substitute Lautaro Martínez completed the turnaround in the second minute of stoppage time.
The victory sends defending champions Argentina into their second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium.
England started the match cautiously, with both teams finding it difficult to create clear opportunities during a physical and tightly contested opening half.
Argentina enjoyed more possession, but England’s defensive structure largely kept Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez away from dangerous areas. The intensity of the rivalry was evident throughout the opening period, with frequent fouls preventing either side from establishing a consistent attacking rhythm.
England produced the breakthrough 10 minutes after half-time.
Harry Kane helped launch a quick counterattack before Morgan Rogers delivered the ball across the penalty area. Gordon arrived at the back post and finished from close range to score his first goal at a major international tournament.
The goal appeared to place England in control, but the Three Lions gradually retreated and allowed Argentina to dominate possession.
Tuchel attempted to protect the advantage with defensive substitutions, but England’s increasingly passive approach invited sustained pressure from the reigning champions.
Argentina finally found their equaliser in the 85th minute when Fernández struck past Jordan Pickford to make it 1-1.
The goal completely changed the momentum of the match, with Argentina continuing to push forward while England struggled to regain possession or relieve the pressure on their defence.
The decisive moment arrived in the 92nd minute.
Messi found space and delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area, where Martínez rose above the England defence and directed his header beyond Pickford.
The late winner sparked wild celebrations among the Argentina players and supporters, while England were left with almost no time to respond.
Argentina successfully managed the remaining minutes to secure a memorable victory and continue their pursuit of a fourth World Cup title.
Messi once again played a decisive role, creating the winning goal and helping Argentina control the final stages of the contest. The 39-year-old will now have another opportunity to lift the World Cup after leading his country to victory at the 2022 tournament.
For England, the defeat will raise questions about their response after taking the lead. The Three Lions surrendered control of the match and reportedly managed only 12 per cent possession over the final 37 minutes as Argentina increased the pressure.
England have now fallen at the semi-final stage in two of the last three World Cups. They will face France in the third-place play-off in Miami, while Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday’s final.
Spain qualified for the decider after defeating France 2-0 in the other semi-final.
