FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Eyeing to retain their World Cup crown, Argentina took on England in the second semi-final in Atlanta.
Argentina 2-1 England
Argentina’s late rally proved to be too much for a timid England side as the defending champions came from behind to book a final spot. Coming into the game, the English side was favoured by many to end Argentina’s campaign, but at the end they were not just up to the task.
Both had fought their way to the semi-finals, having secured come-from-behind wins, dug deep, and shown their gritty side. The first half inside the Mercedes-Benz stadium reflected this with the game lacking any fluidity. In fact, there were as many as 19 fouls in the opening 45 minutes.
John Stones did head wide from a Declan Rice free-kick, but it was the South American side that went close when Enzo Fernandez’s follow up effort just went over the bar. Argentina started the second half better, but it was England who took the lead.
Rice played in Morgan Rogers on the right-hand side, and the Aston Villa man delivered a perfect cross across the ball, which was put into the net by a charging Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute. The Three Lions had their tails up, and when Djed Spence put in a sliding challenge in the box to deny Giuliano Simeone, it appeared they finally were playing like a side not fazed by the occasion or the opponent. But the script changed dramatically.
England sat back and invited pressure from Argentina, with the defending champions having the lion’s share of possession and being camped in the opposing half. Jordan Pickford kept out Nico Gonzalez’s header, and Alexis Mac Allister’s header came off the post as Thomas Tuchel’s side barely hung on.
Tuchel then made the surprising call to take off goal scorer Gordon and replace him with Ezri Konsa with almost 20 minutes of normal time remaining. The German coach made more defensive changes, bringing on Daniel Burn and Nico O’Reilly, leaving his side short of any fresh attacking outlet.
Mac Allister was then denied by Pickford, but the pressure finally told. Lionel Messi laid up Enzo Fernandez, and he unleashed a stunning 25-yard drive that went past the English defence and beyond Pickford to level the scores with five minutes left. Messi and co. chased a winner and England kept sitting back. And they were made to pay.
Mac Allister’s low drive rolled off the left post, and the ball reached Messi. The talismanic forward sent in a teasing cross, which was thumped home by Lautaro Martinez in the second minute of stoppage time. England sent on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford, but it was too little too late as Lionel Scaloni’s men reached the World Cup final for a second time in a row.
Curva Analysis
It is another case of so near yet so far for England. Over the years, they have reached the business end of major tournaments but failed to take that next step. There now have been two World Cup semi-final defeats and two losses in the European Championship finals in the last eight years. This one, though, might sting the most.
Against Croatia in 2018, the English team were playing a World Cup semi-final for the first time in a generation. They took the lead but then went into a shell as Croatia overcame them in extra-time. The cautious approach in that match might have been understandable. In 2021, they went ahead in the Euro final against Italy in front of a partisan Wembley crowd. Despite having an abundance of attacking riches, they sat back. The Azzurri levelled the game and then won the trophy on penalties.
The 2024 Euro final defeat to Spain might be a case of them coming up against a team simply better than them. But this wasn’t the case in Atlanta against Argentina. The defending champions had barely scrapped past Cape Verde and Egypt, and England had every right to believe they were there for the taking.
After Gordon’s goal, the idea should’ve been to exert more control and look for a killer second goal. This is what big teams do; this is exactly what Spain did in the first semi-final against France. But after going ahead, the Three Lions went timid. This was a criticism of the team under Gareth Southgate, and Thomas Tuchel was brought in to address this. And for all his tactical nous, he made the same mistake as his predecessor as England added another painful chapter in their long wait for a second World Cup title.
The manner of England’s collapse should take nothing away from Argentina, who looked like a different team in the final 20 minutes of the game. At 39, Lionel Messi looked creative and threatening as ever. They have players across the pitch who are ready to step up when needed, as they have shown time and again in this tournament.
Against Cape Verde, it was the defender Lisandro Martinez who put them ahead in extra-time. In the last 16 game against Egypt, a late Enzo Fernandez header secured the win. Julian Alvarez scored a brilliant curler in extra-time against Switzerland with the game levelled. Whatever happens, no matter the situation, Argentina seem inevitable.
They might not be marauding in attack like France and are not easy on the eye like Spain, but they have the experience and tactical know-how to overcome adversity. Trailing against England in the last 10 minutes of the game, they looked assured of themselves. There was no panic, no endless crosses into the box, just belief that they would get there. Eventually.
Is this the sign of a champion in waiting? Perhaps. Spain will have a big say in this when they meet in the final. For now, Scaloni and his men will have the chance to become just the third team to retain the World Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Spain outplay France to reach final
