Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late targets to grab a 2-1 win over England
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semi Ultimate – England v Argentina – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US – July 15, 2026 Argentina’s Lionel Messi and teammates rejoice after the match. PHOTO: REUTERS
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late targets to grab a 2-1 win over England within the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to ship Lionel Messi’s reigning champions into the weekend showpiece match towards Spain.
Simply when England appeared set for victory after Anthony Gordon’s second-half objective, Argentina mounted a relentless late siege and obtained their reward as Fernandez levelled earlier than Martinez accomplished the turnaround within the 92nd minute with Messi offering the cross for the equaliser and the cross for the winner.
The consequence added one other unforgettable chapter to one in all soccer’s fiercest rivalries, a contest wealthy in historical past, emotion, and stress from the opening whistle.
For England, desires of a primary World Cup remaining since 1966, once they loved their solely triumph on the world match, have been dashed within the closing levels, whereas Argentina celebrated a comeback that saved alive their quest for one more world title.
With England inexplicably parked in their very own finish, an Argentina equaliser felt inevitable and, after waves of late strain, Fernandez lastly broke by within the eighty fifth minute when Messi discovered him in area on the sting of the field to fireplace house from 20 metres previous Jordan Pickford into the nook.
Martinez, an 81st-minute substitute, struck the winner early in added time when Alexis Mac Allister drove a shot off the put up that Messi recovered. The 39-year-old talisman drove down the precise to ship in an excellent ball for Martinez to go house.
“We’re actually distinctive, and that is not vanity,” mentioned Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. “From the underside of my coronary heart, these gamers led us to victory. I am misplaced for phrases. A pleasure for our nation, for our individuals.”
Vital victory for Messi
The victory carried specific significance for 39-year-old Messi, who was that includes in what’s extensively anticipated to be the ultimate World Cup of his glittering profession.
For England, the defeat was a devastating blow after they matched Argentina for a lot of a hard-fought contest.
The Three Lions had appeared poised for victory after Gordon broke the impasse within the fifty fifth minute when Nicolas Tagliafico’s tried clearance landed on the ft of Declan Rice, who despatched a by ball to Morgan Rogers.
Gordon popped up on the again put up to information Rogers’ cross along with his instep previous goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, sparking bedlam among the many England gamers and followers.
However Thomas Tuchel’s aspect failed to face up to a relentless late assault as Argentina turned the sport on its head.
“Simply gutted for the boys, gutted for everybody, the staff, the workers, the followers,” England captain Harry Kane mentioned.
“We performed a very good recreation for the massive majority of it. As soon as we went 1-0 up, we appeared to simply try to maintain on. At this degree, it is not sufficient.
“Gutted as a result of we have labored so arduous to be right here and the lads have given each final little bit of working, sweat, blood, tears, no matter it’s. So to fall quick like we did at this time … simply gutted.”
Tuchel mentioned he had no regrets.
“The staff gave the whole lot, and we have been very, very shut,” the German mentioned. “The staff was high, we could not deliver it over the road, no, (however) in the intervening time no regrets.”
Considered one of Soccer’s fiercest rivalries
The semi-final between the 2 footballing giants wanted little added drama, arriving steeped in historical past and expectation.
Considered one of soccer’s fiercest rivalries, formed by iconic World Cup clashes and political undertones, has produced no scarcity of memorable moments over the many years.
This newest chapter was no completely different.
Each groups navigated troublesome routes to the final 4, counting on resilience, composure, and a knack for delivering when it mattered most.
Argentina produced extra of the identical on Wednesday, as a aspect that had repeatedly discovered a solution to win when the percentages appeared stacked towards them as soon as once more leaned on late-game heroics to maintain their World Cup dream alive.
“That is actually emotional,” Martinez mentioned. “The primary time my dad purchased me a pair of trainers, I at all times dreamed of scoring this objective. It was actually robust at this time.
“Enzo scored an excellent objective, and I am assured this staff is constant to point out what it’s fabricated from.”
Argentina’s supporters vastly outnumbered England’s, turning the world right into a sea of sky blue and white that made Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium really feel extra like La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, with their followers drowning out England’s tried pre-match rendition of “Candy Caroline” with a wall of whistles.
Famend ring announcer Michael Buffer set the tone earlier than kick-off along with his trademark cry of “Let’s get able to rumble!”
The gamers appeared to take him at his phrase.
Tempers flared nearly instantly, and it took solely a matter of minutes for the simmering rivalry to spill over right into a sequence of heated exchanges in a primary half that was extra notable for sturdy challenges than real scoring alternatives.
The strain produced targets within the second half, however after England scored, they by no means actually threatened once more. Argentina have been left to put siege to their opponents’ objective with Fernandez and Martinez putting the blows that led to Sunday’s remaining.
