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Two things we liked, two we didn't like as England allow late Argentina comeback
Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final after producing a remarkable late comeback to defeat England 2–1 in Atlanta.
Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, timing his run perfectly to convert Morgan Rogers' cross from close range. But Argentina dominated the closing half hour, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing Jordan Pickford into a string of saves before finally breaking through.
Enzo Fernández curled in a spectacular equaliser from distance in the 85th minute, and substitute Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi's cross in the 92nd minute to complete the turnaround and end England's tournament.
Two Things We Liked
Messi's decisive interventions when Argentina needed them most
While Enzo Fernández struck the equaliser and Lautaro Martínez headed the winner, both goals carried Messi's fingerprints.
For the first, the captain worked a short corner routine before dribbling past Djed Spence and threading the ball to Fernández at the edge of the area. For the second, after Alexis Mac Allister's shot had struck the post and the clearance broke loose, Messi collected on the right flank, evaded his marker, and delivered a precise cross for the substitute striker to attack.
In a match where Argentina had pressed without reward for nearly thirty minutes, it was Messi's final passes that converted relentless pressure into the goals that mattered.
Argentina's sustained second-half siege
Argentina recorded 15 shots to England's five and held 64% of possession, but the raw numbers only hint at the waves of attacks that followed half-time.
Julián Álvarez forced saves and fired wide within minutes of the restart. Giuliano Simeone had a clear sight of goal before Spence's sliding block. Nico González's close-range header drew a sensational Pickford save. Mac Allister struck the post, and Álvarez mishit the rebound inside the six-yard box.
The accumulation of chances without reward suggested Argentina might run out of time, but the relentless volume eventually told when it mattered most.
Dazn Media
Two Things We Didn't Like
England's retreat after taking the lead
Having gone ahead, England ceded the match.
Thomas Tuchel replaced goalscorer Gordon with centre-back Ezri Konsa at 72 minutes, then withdrew Declan Rice and Reece James for defensive reinforcements ten minutes later. The changes surrendered territory and initiative, leaving England increasingly pinned in their own half with little route out.
The approach might preserve leads against lesser sides; against Argentina, with Messi still on the pitch, it invited the kind of sustained pressure that eventually produced two goals in the final six minutes.
Argentina's wasteful finishing before the breakthrough
Argentina could not complain about a lack of opportunities—only about their failure to take them until time was running out.
Mac Allister's unmarked header crashed against the woodwork, and Álvarez scuffed the rebound from close range. Nico González's powerful header was superbly saved. Fernández fired over when well placed.
The profligacy extended the tension unnecessarily and almost proved fatal. Had England found a way to run down the clock or snatch a second on the break, Argentina would have had only themselves to blame for an accumulation of squandered chances.
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