By Sachit Subba • Football • Jul 16, 2026 01:00 AM • 128 views
Lionel Messi's quest for a fairytale ending to his international career remains alive. Reigning champions Argentina staged a late rescue to stun England 2-1 on Wednesday night, booking their place in the World Cup final after a pulsating, ill-tempered semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Two goals in the final seven minutes of normal and extra time shattered English dreams of replicating their historic 1966 triumph. Instead, Thomas Tuchel's side collapsed under a wave of attack, sending Lionel Scaloni’s men into a weekend showdown against Spain.
For most of the second half, an upset looked plausible. The Three Lions broke a tense, physical deadlock ten minutes after the interval. Nicolas Tagliafico's attempted clearance fell to Declan Rice, who quickly threaded a pass to Morgan Rogers. Rogers whipped a precise cross toward the back post, where Anthony Gordon guided the ball past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez with his instep, sparking wild celebrations in the English end.
Yet after taking the lead, England retreated deep into their own territory. They chose a low defensive block rather than seek a second goal. The tactical retreat invited relentless pressure from a desperate Argentina. Supported by a raucous sea of sky blue and white shirts that turned the Atlanta arena into a hostile, cauldron-like atmosphere reminiscent of Buenos Aires' famous La Bombonera, the holders finally cracked England's resistance in the 85th minute.
Predictably, the 39-year-old Messi provided the spark. Finding Enzo Fernandez unmarked at the edge of the penalty box, the captain delivered a perfectly weighted pass. Fernandez set himself and drilled a fierce 20-meter strike into the corner of the net, well beyond the reach of a diving Jordan Pickford.
Argentina refused to settle for extra time. In the 92nd minute, the turnaround was complete. Alexis Mac Allister unleashed a powerful shot that rattled off the post, and Messi reacted quickest to corral the loose ball. Driving hard down the right flank, the veteran icon floated a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box. Lautaro Martinez, who had entered as an 81st-minute substitute, anticipated the flight brilliantly, rising to head a decisive goal past Pickford.
"We are truly unique, and that's not arrogance," an emotional Lionel Scaloni said post-match, praising his squad's resilience. "From the bottom of my heart, these players led us to victory. I'm lost for words."
Conversely, the mood in the English camp was one of absolute desolation. Captain Harry Kane did not hide his frustration with the team's late tactical retreat. "Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on," Kane admitted. "At this level, it's not enough. Just gutted because we've worked so hard."
Manager Thomas Tuchel took a more defensive stance on his tactical decisions, saying his team simply ran out of gas against world-class opposition. "The team gave everything, and we were very, very close," Tuchel remarked. "We couldn't bring it over the line, but at the moment, no regrets."
Argentina now marches on to Sunday's final, standing just 90 minutes away from defending their global crown in what is widely anticipated to be Messi's international swansong.
