Argentina beat England 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, with substitute Lautaro Martinez heading home a Lionel Messi cross in the 92nd minute to send the defending champions to their second successive final.
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Key facts
- Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta.
- Substitute Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in the 92nd minute from a Lionel Messi cross.
- Anthony Gordon had put England in front shortly after half-time.
- It is Argentina's second successive World Cup final appearance.
- England were seeking their first World Cup final appearance since 1966.
Defending champions Argentina reached a second successive World Cup final, beating England 2-1 in a dramatic semi-final in Atlanta, according to the BBC.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. Substitute Lautaro Martinez was in the right place at the right time to head home Lionel Messi’s 92nd-minute cross, the BBC reported, sealing Argentina’s place in the final at England’s expense.
England had led. Shortly after half-time, Anthony Gordon put Thomas Tuchel’s side in front, and a first appearance in the World Cup final since 1966 looked on, according to the Guardian’s match report.
The Guardian described the contest as an intensely physical encounter, with a first half it characterised as a gripping physical fight overloaded with shredded nerves. The newspaper called the eventual outcome an implausibly brutal new low for England.
At full time, Argentina celebrated their progression to the final, the BBC reported. The result extends England’s run of tournament heartbreak, with the Guardian framing the country’s destiny as heartbreak and questioning only when it would come and how painful it would be.
Argentina, the defending champions, will now play in the final, having secured back-to-back final appearances with the late turnaround in Atlanta.
Why it matters
As defending champions, Argentina remain in contention to retain the World Cup, while England's late collapse extends the nation's long wait for a final appearance stretching back to 1966. Dramatic stoppage-time swings in a semi-final of this scale resonate well beyond the football world.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the England v Argentina semi-final?
Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, according to the BBC.
Who scored Argentina's winning goal?
Substitute Lautaro Martinez scored the winner, heading home a Lionel Messi cross in the 92nd minute, according to the BBC.
When did England last reach a World Cup final?
The Guardian reported that a first appearance in the World Cup final since 1966 had looked on for England before Argentina's late turnaround.
Timeline
- Argentina celebrate progressing to World Cup final
BBC Sport: Defending champions Argentina celebrate at full time, after beating England 2-1 to make it through to their second successive World Cup final.
- Argentina’s late double breaks England hearts in dramatic World Cup semi-final
The Guardian Sport: England hearts broken after turnaround in Atlanta In pictures: our pick of the best big-match images England’s destiny is tournament heartbreak. The only question concerns when it comes and how the fates will contrive to make it as painful as possible. This was an implausibly bru
- Late Martinez header sends Argentina to World Cup final
BBC Sport: Substitute Lautaro Martinez is in the right place at the right time to head home Lionel Messi's 92nd-minute cross to send Argentina to the World Cup final at the expense of England.