Holders Argentina staged a stunning late fightback to defeat England 2-1 and advance to Sunday’s final against Spain in New York New Jersey.
Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, with the help of two Lionel Messi assists, struck the late goals in a dramatic turnaround in Atlanta just as England were closing in on their first final in 60 years, following Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal.
Instead, La Albiceleste, following another comeback to rival their Round of 16 recovery against Egypt, can now look forward to their seventh World Cup final, and stand a step away from retaining their world crown.
This eagerly-awaited revival of one of international football’s great rivalries ended with a repeat of the scoreline in the teams’ most famous encounter in Mexico City 40 years ago. It certainly began in feisty fashion. It was cagey and intensely contested and not until the 33rd minute did either side produce an attempt on goal. That was when John Stones nodded wide from a Declan Rice free-kick at the far post. At the other end, Fernandez flashed a fierce shot over.
Both these teams had had to dig deep to get this far. Both had found moments of inspiration when it was most needed. Julian Alvarez sought to conjure one such moment soon after the restart, getting beyond Djed Spence following a long ball forward and drawing a smart save from Jordan Pickford at his near post.
Instead, the breakthrough came at the other end when Morgan Rogers, one of three players brought back into England’s starting XI, delivered a terrific low cross from the right. Gordon, arriving at the back post, got in front of Nahuel Molina to steer an excellent controlled finish into the corner of Emiliano Martinez’s goal.
Another of the starters reinstated by Thomas Tuchel, Spence made a brilliant goalsaving tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone but the close calls continued as England sat increasingly deep and Argentina’s pressure grew. Substitute Nico Gonzalez saw his header foiled by a fine Pickford save, while Alexis Mac Allister headed against the post.
Eventually, the pressure told as following a short-corner routine Messi squared the ball to Fernandez and he unleashed a magnificent shot from outside the box that flew past Pickford to his right. Then, in added time, Mac Allister’s shot struck a post but Messi recycled the danger, delivering a right-foot cross that substitute Martinez buried at the far post.
Key stats
•At 39 years and 21 days old, Messi became the oldest outfield player to make an appearance in a World Cup semi-final beating previous record holders Fritz Walter and Gunnar Gren who were both 37 years and 236 days old when playing against each other for West Germany and Sweden respectively in 1958.
• With his 121st appearance for England, Harry Kane became the outfield player with the most international outings for the Three Lions.
• Matchwinner Martínez has now scored after coming on as a substitute in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
• There were seven players aged 32+ among the 22 starters, representing the most in a World Cup semi-final. The previous high was six in 2006 when France played Portugal.
