Argentina Demonstrates Why…

ATLANTA — Argentina kept their hopes for a consecutive World Cup championship alive, stunning England with a late surge, winning their semifinal 2-1 at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium).

England, aiming for their first final appearance since 1966, appeared primed to end their 60-year drought when Anthony Gordon scored early in the second half. With Argentina searching for an equalizer, England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several exceptional saves, keeping them ahead.

However, a remarkable 20-yard strike from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute drew Argentina level, and Lautaro Martínez sealed the victory with a header off a cross from Lionel Messi two minutes into stoppage time.

Argentina will now face European champions Spain in the final at the New York/New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium). — Mark Ogden

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Argentina’s World Cup Experience Prevails

With this victory, Argentina has advanced to the World Cup final once more, showcasing the impact of their collective experience, especially highlighted by Martínez’s goal at a crucial moment.

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister had previously noted the value of having semifinal experience, acknowledging their prior appearances in 2014 and 2022. “Playing in a World Cup semifinal certainly helps, but it doesn’t guarantee outcomes,” Mac Allister remarked.

This experience proved beneficial as Argentina demonstrated composure and organization, ultimately breaking through against England’s defense. Messi orchestrated play superbly, facilitating both of Argentina’s goals.

Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni made astute decisions that kept his squad in the match. Although he faced criticism for a questionable substitution by bringing in Rodrigo De Paul for Giuliano Simeone, he corrected his course in the second half. — Lizzy Becherano

England’s Six Decades of Heartbreak Continue

Once again, football is not “coming home.”

England coach Thomas Tuchel has sought to distance this squad from the painful experiences highlighted in the nostalgic “Three Lions” anthem, focusing instead on the progress made in recent tournaments since he took charge.

This time appeared different — their iconic win against Mexico at Estadio Azteca could serve as proof that they can handle high-pressure situations. Yet, they faltered against the strongest team they faced in this tournament, extending their wait for a major trophy to 60 years.

Once more, they found themselves unable to overcome elite opposition. While Mexico posed a significant challenge, they ranked just 14th globally. England has repeatedly been unable to surpass top-tier teams, similar to their past defeats to Italy in 2020, France in 2022, and Spain two years ago. Next up is Euro 2028 at home, yet a sense remains that a breaking point eludes England. — James Olley

Scaloni’s Strategic Changes Propel Argentina to Victory

England sought to end their quest for international glory by hiring Tuchel, a Champions League champion, but he was outmaneuvered by Argentina’s often overlooked coach, Scaloni.

Scaloni is frequently dismissed as merely someone who knows how to manage Messi, but he has secured a World Cup and two Copa America titles for Argentina and is nearing a second World Cup due to his tactical superiority over Tuchel at crucial moments.

As England aimed to protect their lead, Tuchel adopted a defensive strategy, bringing on players like Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, and Nico O’Reilly before finally opting for attacking substitutions with Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney after falling behind. Tuchel should have revitalized the attack with fresh legs and speed, but instead opted to take a more cautious approach.

Conversely, Scaloni aggressively looked for offensive contributions, introducing Nico González to boost the midfield and pushing De Paul forward. Despite being forced to make protective substitutions, Scaloni aggressively sought an equalizer, making a decisive substitution in the 81st minute with Martínez, who proved to be pivotal.

Martínez caused considerable trouble for England’s backline and ultimately netted the winning goal in stoppage time. — Ogden

Tuchel’s Misfortune as England’s Cycle of Disappointment Continues

England were just five minutes away from reaching the World Cup final. They achieved this after employing a strategy that had worked well in previous matches against Mexico and Norway: defend a narrow lead with a solid back five.

Yet their failure to maintain control reminiscent of past disappointments, surrendering territory, and inviting relentless pressure led to their downfall, echoing the exits from the 2018 World Cup semifinal against Croatia and the Euro 2020 final, which ended in a penalty shootout loss. After taking the lead, England managed just three shots, and none after the 78th minute.

They may have lacked the physical capacity after enduring the exhausting altitude of Mexico and the grueling 120 minutes against Norway. Former coach Gareth Southgate faced criticism for overly cautious substitutions, a pattern that now potentially falls on Tuchel as Argentina, especially Messi, seized a critical swing in momentum. — Olley

Fernández Shines as England’s Bane

From the outset, it was evident that Fernández was determined to make an impact. He began by striking at Elliot Anderson in just the third minute and continued to unsettle the England midfielder throughout the opening quarter of the match. His relentless energy was commendable; he was the type of player that you would relish having on your side but would be eager to trip if he played for the opposition.

Fernández’s influence on the match was undeniable. He threatened Pickford with a long-range shot in the first half but made his decisive contribution in the 85th minute. After England failed to adequately defend against a corner, Messi found him unmarked on the edge of the box. Fernández took a moment to assess the situation, then expertly placed the ball beyond Pickford into the net. He celebrated wildly, embraced by Argentina’s jubilant fans, solidifying his role as a match-winner.

It’s also worth noting his midfield counterpart, Mac Allister, who had an impactful game. He struck the woodwork twice, further boosting Argentina’s confidence to elevate their performance. — Tom Hamilton