They did it again. Argentina, the death-defying defending champions, scored twice in the final five minutes to stun England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and book their place in Sunday’s final against Spain. Enzo Fernandez’s thunderbolt from distance in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage-time header off a Lionel Messi cross completed yet another extraordinary Argentina comeback at this tournament. Here is how argentina beat england in a semifinal that will live in World Cup lore forever.
First Half: Tension, Physicality, No Goals
The atmosphere inside the retractable-roof stadium was ferocious from kickoff, with thousands of Argentine fans in white and sky blue drowning out the English contingent. Both teams played a physical, cagey first half defined by collisions, jersey tugs, and tough tackles. American referee Ismail Elfath, the first US official to work a World Cup semifinal, showed yellow cards to both sides before the break. Neither team created a clear-cut chance, with England sitting deep and Argentina probing without finding the final pass. Messi was quiet but watchful, drifting between the lines and waiting for the moment to arrive.
Gordon Breaks the Deadlock: England Lead
The game exploded in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, and Anthony Gordon, England’s electric left winger, smashed a first-time finish past Emiliano Martinez to give the Three Lions a deserved lead. England had defended with discipline and hit on the counter exactly as Thomas Tuchel had planned. For 30 minutes, they held firm, and a first World Cup final since 1966 looked tantalizingly close.
Argentina’s frustration grew. Alexis Mac Allister thundered a header off the inside of the post. Messi curled a free kick just wide. England retreated deeper and deeper, inviting pressure but appearing to have the composure to withstand it. Then the dam broke.
Fernandez’s Rocket: 85th Minute Equalizer
In the 85th minute, Enzo Fernandez collected the ball 25 yards from goal, shifted onto his right foot, and bent a stunning strike past Jordan Pickford and into the far corner. It was a goal of pure individual brilliance, the kind of moment that arrives when a team has been battering the door for half an hour. Fernandez had seen a shot tipped over the bar moments earlier, and this time he found the precision to match the power. Argentina 1, England 1, and the stadium erupted.
Martinez’s Header: Stoppage-Time Winner
Two minutes into added time, Messi received the ball on the right flank, looked up, and delivered a curling cross into the six-yard box. Lautaro Martinez, who had replaced Julian Alvarez in the 72nd minute, met it with a diving header that gave Pickford no chance. Argentina 2, England 1, and the Argentine half of Atlanta descended into pandemonium. Messi, architect of both goals with two assists, was mobbed by his teammates. England’s players sank to the turf, a World Cup final snatched from their grasp in the final minutes.
Coach Lionel Scaloni captured it afterward: “This team plays the best when we are facing a difficult situation, with adversity. There was blood in the water, and we went for it.”
Match Stats
| Stat | England | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 1 | 2 |
| Goals | Gordon 55′ | Fernandez 85′, Martinez 90+2′ |
| Shots (on target) | 5 (2) | 15 (5) |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.53 | 1.84 |
| Possession | 35% | 56% |
| Messi assists | — | 2 |
England’s Six Decades of Hurt Continue
For England, it is a familiar agony in a new city. Harry Kane acknowledged afterward that it was “a similar story to what’s happened in previous tournaments,” and the numbers tell the tale: five shots to Argentina’s fifteen, 35 percent possession, and a defense that held brilliantly for an hour before being overwhelmed by sheer sustained pressure. England’s World Cup drought since 1966 stretches on, and coach Thomas Tuchel will face hard questions about why his team sat so deep for so long against opponents who simply do not stop coming. England now face France in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami.
Argentina March to Another Final
Argentina will play Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, 3:00 PM ET on FOX, a match we preview in full in our final preview. It is Messi’s second consecutive World Cup final and almost certainly his last, a farewell fitting for a player who now holds the all-time World Cup goal record with 21 and added two more assists tonight to take his tournament total to eight goals and three assists. The Golden Boot race is now a dead heat with Mbappe on goals and assists alike. The coronation, or the heartbreak, comes Sunday. Full match details at FIFA.com.
