Argentina beat England 2-1 as Messi inspires late World Cup comeback

Just 12 per cent possession after taking the lead tells the story of England's World Cup semi-final collapse. Anthony Gordon put the Three Lions ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina seized control, equalised through Enzo Fernandez and won in stoppage time when Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi's cross. The 2-1 result sends the defending champions into another final and leaves England facing familiar questions about tactics, ambition and another missed opportunity.

The Bottom Line

• Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta.
• Anthony Gordon scored for England in the 55th minute.
• Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez scored in stoppage time.
• Messi created the winner with a right-footed cross to Martinez at the far post.
• Argentina will face Spain in the final, while England will meet France in the third-place match on Sunday morning at 7am AEST.

Breaking It Down

The match began as a physical contest shaped by the long and bitter football rivalry between the two countries. There were 19 fouls in the first half, and neither team managed a shot on goal during the opening half-hour. England survived the aggression, settled into the match and began the second half with greater purpose.

Gordon's breakthrough came after Harry Kane and Declan Rice combined before Morgan Rogers delivered a precise cross. Gordon finished at the back post for his first goal of the tournament, giving England a 1-0 lead and a platform from which they appeared capable of reaching the final.

The match shifted when England manager Thomas Tuchel replaced Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa in the 72nd minute. Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly later entered as England moved deeper and packed the field with defenders. Between Gordon's goal and Argentina's winner, England had only 12 per cent of possession, leaving Kane isolated and removing the counterattacking outlet that had troubled Argentina.

Argentina responded with sustained pressure. Fernandez forced Jordan Pickford into a save from distance, then found space following the resulting corner and swept the equaliser beyond the England goalkeeper in the 85th minute. Alexis Mac Allister struck the upright as the pressure grew, before Messi reached the byline and lifted a right-footed cross towards Martinez, whose stoppage-time header completed the comeback. ABC's match breakdown detailed how England's increasingly defensive shape allowed Messi to dictate the decisive closing minutes.

Why This Matters

England have now reached the semi-finals or better in four of their past five major tournaments, matching the number of semi-final appearances they recorded across the 31 tournaments between 1950 and 2016. That consistency shows how far the national side has progressed, but repeated deep runs have also intensified the frustration because the final step continues to elude them.

For Australian viewers, the result carried a strong local dimension. Venues across the country were packed with supporters, including a heavily English crowd at The Star in Sydney. The atmosphere changed sharply after Argentina's two late goals, while Australian football figure Craig Foster argued that surrendering control to Messi was the tactical mistake England could not afford.

The defeat also places Tuchel under scrutiny. Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the decision to switch to five defenders allowed Argentina to control the match, while Tuchel maintained that his changes were designed to deal with repeated crosses. He accepted responsibility but said he had no regrets, explaining that England had already begun conceding chances before the substitutions.

What Comes Next

Argentina will play European champions Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey. Victory would make Argentina the first country since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive men's World Cups, joining Brazil and Italy as the only nations to achieve the feat.

England's tournament continues with a third-place match against France on Sunday morning at 7am AEST. Attention will then turn to Tuchel's future and whether England's Football Association believes a semi-final finish satisfies the performance expectations attached to his contract.