Atlanta. Defending champions Argentina staged a sensational late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in a highly charged semi-final at the Atlanta Stadium.
Two late goals overturned a second-half deficit.
Lionel Scaloni’s side booked their place in Sunday’s final against Spain in East Rutherford.
The match renewed one of the most intense and historic rivalries in international football.
A raucous atmosphere filled the stadium long before kickoff.
Both sets of supporters tried to drown out the opposition’s national anthem.
The high emotional stakes quickly translated into a physical, combative battle on the pitch.
A fractured and chippy first half
The first half was defined by defensive discipline and frequent interruptions.
Both teams struggled to find a rhythmic passing sequence.
The referee blew his whistle constantly to manage the aggressive physical duels.
Argentina’s Leandro Paredes set a combative tone early with a heavy challenge on Jude Bellingham.
Minutes later, Enzo Fernández committed a similar foul on Elliot Anderson.
The tension escalated further during the 25th-minute hydration break.
Bellingham and Paredes engaged in a heated confrontation on the touchline.
The defensive structures of both sides remained unyielding.
Jordan Pickford and Emiliano Martínez were rarely tested before the interval.
Clear-cut opportunities were non-existent, and the teams entered the locker rooms at 0-0.
England strike first in the second period
The game opened up significantly after the restart.
Jordan Pickford made a vital early save to deny Argentina’s Julián Álvarez.
England then began to assert their presence on the counter-attack.
In the 55th minute, England found the crucial breakthrough.
Morgan Rogers delivered a precise cross from the flank. Anthony Gordon anticipated the flight of the ball perfectly at the far post.
The forward converted his opportunity with composure to score his first-ever World Cup goal.
England looked to defend their narrow advantage. Manager Gareth Southgate adjusted his team’s shape to absorb pressure.
Argentina reacted by committing extra men forward in search of an equaliser.
Unrelenting Argentinian pressure
The final half-hour belonged to the South American champions.
Argentina mounted waves of sustained pressure on the English penalty area.
Substitute Nico González came incredibly close to scoring with a powerful header.
Pickford produced another magnificent reaction save to push the ball aside. Shortly after, Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to connect with a cross.
His header beat the goalkeeper but rattled off the post.
England continued to drop deeper as fatigue set in. The relentless Argentinian attack began to find pockets of space.
The final turnaround
Argentina’s persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute.
Lionel Messi collected the ball and spotted Enzo Fernández in space.
Messi delivered a pass to the midfielder on the edge of the area.
Fernández unleashed a powerful long-range effort that sailed past Pickford.
With momentum fully on their side, Argentina pushed for a winner before extra time.
In the second minute of added time, the comeback was complete.
Messi stood over the ball and delivered a pinpoint cross into the box.
Substitute Lautaro Martínez timed his run perfectly. Martínez headed the ball firmly into the net to trigger wild celebrations.
With the two assists, Messi moved to the top of the tournament’s assist standings.
Argentina will now prepare to face Spain on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
England suffer a heartbreaking exit, falling just short of their first final since 1966.
