One of many bitter disputes international soccer wrote a new chapter in its controversial streak on Wednesday, when defending World Cup champions Argentina defeated England 2-1 in Atlanta, Georgia, to advance to Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, where they played. will face Spain.
In a chippy, tense matchup that was all about free-flowing football and a scrambling battle, a 55th-minute piece of brilliance from left-winger Anthony Gordon, who latched on to a pass from Morgan Rogers, gave England the lead.
But as they have so many times in this competition, La Albiceleste came back, first thanks to a stunning strike in the 85th minute from just outside the penalty area by midfielder Enzo Fernandez, then a stoppage time header from substitute Lautaro Martinez, assisted by none other than legendary striker Lionel Messi, to give Argentina the lead for good.
Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
“I had a dream, I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) I was going to score a goal. I told him I was going to go out and I was going to win it,” said Martinez. “I can tell you that this team keeps showing what it’s made of.”
At the final whistle, Messi fell to his knees in celebration while England’s players gasped in disbelief – again. Add 2026 to 1986 and 1998 in the list of matches where Argentina have extinguished English World Cup hopes.
“I’m happy with the team, the staff, the fans,” said England captain Harry Kane. “We’ve worked hard to be here. The boys have put in all the blood, sweat and tears. To fail like we did is just a waste of time.”
Messi wants to lead Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup title and to become the first champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. His eight goals are still tied for the most in the competition. The 39-year-old is one of only two players, the other being Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to play in the six-man World Cup.
The Three Lions were looking for their first World Cup title since 1966. Their intercontinental rivalry with Argentina is steeped in history, most notably Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal that helped Argentina beat England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup.
Argentina will face Spain on Sunday, having beaten France 2-0 on Tuesday. England will play France on Saturday for third place.
“We will try to win, we will leave everything,” said the coach of Argentina, Lionel Scaloni. “It’s very difficult to make people understand what these players are showing. It’s amazing. We’re different, really, and it’s not arrogance, it comes from the heart. We’re different.”
England wanted to protect their lead at the end of 1-0 and coach Thomas Tuchel made changes in the construction of the wall in front of the goal.
Argentina and Messi kicked it down.
England substituted defender Reece James for Dan Burn and midfielder Declan Rice for defender Nico O’Reilly in the 82nd minute.
Three minutes later, Fernández scored off Argentina’s goal. And late substitute Martínez sealed the winner with a close-range header when England’s players lost him to Messi’s cross.
Messi drew Kane and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for a handshake and hug on the pitch after Argentina’s victory.
Argentina’s players – many with their shirts off – jumped and sang in front of their fans after their win. The England players stood nervously in the middle of the field. A lot of his fans left immediately when the game ended.
England’s defeat will hurt a new generation of fans in the same way that Diego Maradona’s infamous handball goal in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals and the penalty shootout in 1998 when David Beckham was sent off for kicking Diego Simeone.
It almost felt inevitable. Especially considering the number of times Argentina simply refused to enter this year’s World Cup. From Cape Verde to Egypt, Messi and Co. they seem to find a way.
England, by contrast, failed to make the World Cup semi-finals for the third time after losing to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018. And the only time in recent years that England’s players have missed a chance to win in the latter stages of a major tournament.
Wednesday’s first half was goalless but we didn’t do anything difficult. The teams combined for 19 goals in the first half, two yellow cards and no goals.
Referee Ismail Elfath called off the match after a few minutes in an attempt to calm the situation.
It didn’t seem to help much as the physical style of both teams continued.
Ahead of the match, Argentina’s Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva said fans would not be able to carry other flags and banners featuring images of the Falkland Islands into the semi-finals.
Monteoliva spoke about FIFA’s code of conduct, which prohibits divisive political content. But his comments led to social media organizing in Buenos Aires.
England reasserted control of the Falklands in the 1982 war with Argentina. Argentinians claim the Malvinas as a British protectorate and consider the South Atlantic islands important to their national identity.
FIFA’s code of conduct also states that fans cannot “swear or chant in a political, offensive and/or discriminatory manner.”
The Vice President of Argentina, Victoria Villarruel, this week described the game as a fight against “pirates,” referring to the Falkland Islands conflict.
