World Cup 2026:World Cup 2026: Argentina Stun England With Late Comeback To Reach Final
2 min read
By Sportsgister
Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after producing a dramatic late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in a captivating semi-final clash.
Trailing midway through the second half, Lionel Scaloni’s side showed remarkable resilience as late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez completed a stunning turnaround, ending England’s World Cup dream and setting up a blockbuster final against Spain.
The opening half was a tense tactical battle, with both teams cancelling each other out despite creating promising opportunities.
Argentina came closest before the break in the 39th minute when Enzo Fernández unleashed a powerful long-range strike that sailed narrowly over Jordan Pickford’s crossbar.
The reigning champions resumed the second half with renewed urgency, and Julián Álvarez nearly broke the deadlock two minutes after the restart. The striker reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area, but Pickford remained alert to gather comfortably.
England eventually struck first in the 55th minute.
Morgan Rogers delivered a delightful lofted cross into the penalty area, where Anthony Gordon timed his run perfectly before guiding a composed finish into the bottom-left corner to hand the Three Lions a crucial 1-0 advantage.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, England looked on course for a famous victory, but Argentina refused to surrender.
The South Americans continued to pile on the pressure and almost found an equaliser in the 69th minute when Nicolás González met a dangerous cross with a powerful header, only for Pickford to produce an outstanding reflex save to preserve England’s lead.
Argentina’s persistence finally paid off five minutes from time.
In the 85th minute, Lionel Messi picked out Enzo Fernández on the edge of the penalty area, and the Chelsea midfielder kept his composure before drilling a low finish beyond Pickford to restore parity and reignite Argentina’s hopes.
With extra time looming, the defending champions delivered the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
Messi once again proved to be the architect, producing a superb cross into the six-yard box in the 90+2nd minute, where Lautaro Martínez rose unmarked to head into an empty net and complete a remarkable comeback.
The dramatic victory sends Argentina into a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final, where they will face Spain in what promises to be a thrilling battle for football’s biggest prize.
For England, the defeat is another painful semi-final exit despite a spirited performance. Thomas Tuchel’s men will now shift their focus to the third-place playoff against France, while Argentina continue their quest to successfully defend the World Cup crown.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
