Until Argentina intersected with England in the World Cup semi‑final on Wednesday, their good fortune at this tournament had been preserved by a very particular, chaotic cocktail, one that sometimes felt more mythical than real. For just a moment, it seemed like that mysticism was about to run out.
Then Argentina did what they’ve done all summer. They sent the bulk of a stadium – and an entire country – into hysterics. La Albiceleste scored twice in the dying moments, erased England’s lead and advanced to the final. After the second of those two goals – a Lautaro Martínez strike in second‑half stoppage time – supporters from both sides were openly weeping, for wildly different reasons.
