Football fans witnessed a dramatic turnaround in the second half of the World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England, as the South Americans clinched a 2-1 victory to advance to the final. Lionel Messi, the tournament’s standout performer, orchestrated the late surge with two crucial assists, silencing the Three Lions and propelling his team toward a potential back-to-back World Cup triumph.
The first half was a physical stalemate, with referee Ismaïl Elfath issuing 19 fouls and a combined expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.07—a stark contrast to the attacking flair that defines high-stakes football. England’s Elliot Anderson delivered a bone-jarring tackle on Messi midway through the first period, underscoring the no-nonsense approach adopted by Gareth Southgate’s side.
Messi’s magic in the dying minutes
After the break, the game transformed into a spectacle. Julian Alvarez blazed past Nahuel Molina but was denied by a sharp Jordan Pickford save in the 47th minute. Anthony Gordon capitalized on a defensive lapse to give England the lead at the 55th minute, only for the tide to shift dramatically. Messi, though scoreless himself, became the architect of Argentina’s late winner.
With time running out, Messi threaded a pinpoint cross to Enzo Fernandez, who restored parity in the 85th minute. Then, in stoppage time, Messi delivered another assist—this time to Lautaro Martinez—for the dramatic 2-1 winner. At 39 years old, the Argentine maestro remains the heartbeat of his team, proving that age is no barrier to greatness.
France awaits England in the third-place playoff
For England, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. The Three Lions will now face France in Miami on Saturday (23:00 local time) for the bronze medal match—a fixture neither side relishes. The rivalry between the two nations runs deep, spanning decades of sporting history, though this clash will play out without key figures like Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud, who have since moved on.
While neither team may approach the match with the same intensity as a knockout final, the occasion still promises drama. Argentina, meanwhile, will turn their attention to Sunday’s showdown against Spain at New York’s MetLife Stadium, where a place in footballing immortality awaits.
