Argentina staged another dramatic comeback to knock England out and deservedly romp into a second World Cup final in as many tournaments on Wednesday.
The Three Lions had won all three of their knockout matches by a single goal, while two of Argentina’s three triumphs have come by the same margin. With England needing extra time once and the defending champion twice, both sides enter the semifinal carrying the physical toll of a demanding run—meaning stamina and recovery could play a decisive role.
Ultimately, it was England whose legs grew heavy. Anthony Gordon fired the Three Lions into a 55th-minute lead, prompting a dramatic rearguard action from Thomas Tuchel. Argentina became emboldened by the timid opponent, ramping up the pressure before Enzo Fernández’s wonder strike leveled the semifinal in the 85th minute.
Argentina would not need extra time to complete the turnaround. Lionel Messi, who rolled the ball back for Fernández’s stunner, skipped to the byline in stoppage time to send a cross onto Lautaro Martínez’s head for yet another late winner.
