What's happened
Argentina has overturned a second-half lead by England, with Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez sealing a 2-1 victory to advance to the final. England had taken the lead through Anthony Gordon, but Lionel Messi’s side provided a late comeback under pressure.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Argentina’s resilience under late pressure contrasts with England’s defensive adjustments under Tuchel.
- The match highlighted England’s reliance on set pieces and quick counters, while Argentina exploited wide spaces late on.
- The result solidifies Messi’s ongoing supremacy at the tournament, while England face scrutiny over midfield control and defending in the final phase.
- Forecast: Argentina will push for the final; England will regroup and review defensive set-pieces and pace in midfield.
How we got here
England were seeking a first men’s World Cup final in 60 years after a strong run to the semi-final; Argentina, led by Messi, staged a dramatic late comeback.
Our analysis
- The Guardian reports on England’s semi-final performance with player ratings and tactical notes; - Independent provides a narrative of the match events and individual performances; - France 24 covers the late turnaround and key moments; - France 24 (earlier) and Guardian analysis offer context on England’s set-piece threat and Argentina’s defensive approach.
Go deeper
- What changed at halftime to shift momentum?
- How will England adjust for the third-place match or next tournament?
- Which players could be key in the final if England advance?
More on these topics
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Argentina - Country in South America
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Lautaro Martínez - Argentine association football player (born 1997)
Lautaro Javier Martínez (born 22 August 1997) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays primarily as a striker for Serie A club Inter Milan, which he captains, and the Argentina national team. Martínez began his senior career with Argentine Primera División side Racing Club, before signing with Inter Milan in 2018 in a transfer worth €22.7 million. With Inter, he has gone on to win three Serie A titles, three Coppa Italias, and reached the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2020 and the UEFA Champions League in 2023 and 2025. He also won the Serie A Most Valuable Player in the 2023–24 season and finished as league top scorer in the 2023–24 and 2025–26 seasons. Martínez currently ranks as Inter's third highest all-time top goalscorer. Martínez first represented Argentina at youth level, playing in both the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2017 South American U-20 Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2018 and has won the 2021 Copa América, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and 2024 Copa América, winning the Golden Boot as top scorer of the latter and scoring the winner in the final.
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