Argentina booked their place in the World Cup final after scoring twice late on to beat England 2-1 in a dramatic semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Anthony Gordon looked to have fired England into their first World Cup final since 1966 when he broke the deadlock early in the second half, but the defending champions produced a late turnaround as Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross in stoppage time.
The victory sends Lionel Scaloni’s side into Sunday’s final against European champions Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Argentina will attempt to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. England will face France in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Miami.
The latest instalment of one of international football’s fiercest rivalries was a tense affair from the outset, with both sides cancelling each other out in a physical first half that produced few clear-cut opportunities.
England made the breakthrough 10 minutes after the restart. Harry Kane helped initiate the move before Morgan Rogers delivered a low cross from the right and Gordon arrived unmarked at the far post to guide the ball beyond Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina responded by increasing the pressure and Jordan Pickford was forced into an excellent save to keep out Nico Gonzalez’s header before Alexis Mac Allister struck the post as England came under sustained pressure.
Thomas Tuchel’s side initially held firm, but Argentina finally found a way through five minutes from time. Messi picked out Fernandez on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder controlled the ball before firing an unstoppable effort beyond Pickford from outside the box.
With momentum firmly on their side, Argentina continued to press for a winner. Mac Allister hit the woodwork for a second time before Messi gathered the loose ball and delivered an inviting cross for Martinez, who had come off the bench just 11 minutes earlier, to head home in the second minute of stoppage time.
The win keeps alive Argentina’s bid to defend the title they won in Qatar four years ago, while Messi, at 39, will become only the second player after Brazil’s Cafu to appear in three World Cup finals.
For England, it was another painful World Cup exit after they failed to protect their advantage, with Tuchel’s side punished for retreating in the closing stages as Argentina completed a remarkable comeback.