World champions Argentina staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 and secure a place in the World Cup final against European champions Spain.
England looked set to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half before a crowd of 68,239 in Atlanta.
However, Lionel Messi inspired Argentina’s fightback, setting up Enzo Fernandez for the equaliser in the 85th minute before delivering the cross that substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home in stoppage time to seal a memorable victory.
The win keeps Argentina on course to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup title.
Messi praises Argentina’s resilience
Messi described the semi-final victory as ‘quite a special one’, saying the occasion carried added significance because of the long-standing historical rivalry between Argentina and England.
The 39-year-old also praised his teammates for their determination and fighting spirit, saying their resilience had once again been the key to victory.
‘What the group has been doing is incredible. This shows our character, our grit, our collective and the way we play together. It was really, truly amazing,’ he said.
Argentina have repeatedly demonstrated that resilience throughout the tournament, including recovering from a two-goal deficit to beat Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16.
Final showdown with Spain awaits
Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey after the European champions defeated France 2-0 in the other semi-final.
Messi said he expected another difficult challenge against a Spanish side he knows well from his years at Barcelona.
‘They are a fantastic side with wonderful players. They play very, very well. I know them quite well, their philosophy has been developed over many years, and I know many of the players,’ he said.
The final will also mark another milestone for Messi, who is set to become only the second player after Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals.
For England, the defeat was a painful setback after coming within minutes of reaching their first World Cup final in six decades. They will now face France in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
