Argentina beats England 2-1 on late goals to reach final
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- Argentina scored two goals in the 85th minute and stoppage time to defeat England 2-1 in the semifinal, securing a place in the World Cup final.
- Lionel Messi recorded his 10th World Cup knockout-stage assist and extended his streak to 11 consecutive games with a goal or assist, the longest since at least 1966.
- Enzo Fernández equalized for Argentina with a 20-yard strike in the 85th minute, moments after England had dominated through a second-half goal from Anthony Gordon.
- Lautaro Martínez headed in the winning goal from Messi’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time, fulfilling his pre-substitution promise to teammates.
- England failed to hold a lead into the final stages, with coach Thomas Tuchel admitting his team became passive and conceded excessive chances after scoring.
- Argentina became the first team in a single World Cup to score multiple winning goals in second-half stoppage time, repeating their round-of-16 comeback against Egypt.
Why it matters: Argentina advances to face Spain in a historic final between the reigning champions of Europe and South America—the first such clash since FIFA rankings began in 1992—while England’s 1966 World Cup drought extends and scrutiny grows over Tuchel’s in-game management after failing to close out a semifinal.
