Argentina’s dramatic comeback
Argentina secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against England in the FIFA World Cup semi-final held in Atlanta. The South American side, who were the defending champions, were trailing by a single goal with just five minutes of regular time remaining. However, a late surge led by Lionel Messi saw them score two goals in a seven-minute period to clinch their spot in the final.
The match, played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, was marked by intense rivalry and physical play from the outset. The first half concluded goalless, with both teams struggling to establish a rhythm amidst frequent stoppages. Key incidents included Leandro Paredes’ late challenge on Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernández’s robust tackle on Elliot Anderson.
The game’s dynamic shifted in the 55th minute when England took the lead. Morgan Rogers delivered a cross from the right flank, which Anthony Gordon converted past Emi Martínez. Following this goal, England, under coach Thomas Tuchel, adopted a more defensive posture, absorbing significant pressure from Argentina.
Argentina‘s persistence paid off in the 85th minute. A short-corner routine saw Messi set up Enzo Fernández, who unleashed a powerful, curving long-range shot that found the far corner of the net. This equaliser ignited Argentina‘s momentum, and they capitalised on England‘s disarray.
The decisive goal came two minutes into stoppage time. Messi, finding space on the flank, delivered a precise cross with his right foot. Substitute Lautaro Martínez met the ball with a five-yard header, scoring between John Stones and Reece James to secure Argentina‘s victory.
England’s disappointment and reflections
The defeat marked the second time in eight years that England‘s men’s team led a World Cup semi-final only to lose. Dan Burn, a second-half substitute for England, expressed his deep disappointment, stating that the loss would “haunt” him for a long time. He acknowledged that the team became “too passive” after taking the lead, conceding too many crosses and chances against a high-quality opponent.
England captain Harry Kane also shared his devastation, highlighting the difficulty of being so close to a final appearance after being ahead for a significant portion of the game. He noted that the team struggled to maintain possession and pressure after their goal, which allowed Argentina to build momentum.
Despite the setback, England‘s head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to retain the backing of the Football Association and lead the team into Euro 2028. Tuchel expressed surprise that his side could not see out the game after going 1-0 up, noting that the goal shifted momentum entirely in Argentina‘s favour. He observed that Argentina played with a “nothing to lose” mindset, taking risks that England could not counter.
Jude Bellingham, another key player for England, reflected on the team’s effort throughout the tournament, stating he could not fault their fight. He described the outcome as heartbreaking, particularly after the team’s strong performances in earlier rounds, including victories against Mexico and Norway.
England must now prepare for a third-place play-off against France on Saturday. Kane, who has scored six goals in the tournament, is still in contention for the Golden Boot, though Messi and Kylian Mbappe have eight goals each. Kane, who will turn 33 later this month, stated that he takes his career “year by year” when asked about his participation in the 2030 World Cup.
Argentina’s path to the final
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his team’s resilience and “never-say-die mentality” following their victory. He noted that the team performs best when facing adversity and that they sensed an opportunity when England became more defensive after taking the lead. Scaloni described the win as “epic squared,” building on a previous “epic” comeback against Egypt in the last 16.
Scaloni emphasised that the win was a collective effort, highlighting the “collectiveness” and “brotherhood” within the squad. He stated that his players are fearless and do not feel the pressure of major tournaments, playing with a mindset similar to children. This victory sends Argentina to the final against Spain, which will be held in East Rutherford on Sunday.
The match against Spain offers Argentina the chance to achieve a historic feat: winning back-to-back World Cups, a feat previously accomplished by Italy in 1934-1938 and Brazil in 1958-1962. Scaloni now has the opportunity to lead the team to four consecutive major titles, following their Copa América victories and the 2022 World Cup win.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
