Lautaro Martinez rose in the 92nd minute to head home Lionel Messi’s cross and send Argentina to the World Cup final, crushing England’s dreams in Atlanta. The substitute’s decisive strike capped a remarkable late turnaround, with Argentina scoring twice in eight minutes to cancel out Anthony Gordon’s opener.
England had taken the lead through Gordon, but Enzo Fernandez levelled in the 85th minute. Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, Martinez met Messi’s delivery to spark wild celebrations on the Argentina bench. The Argentina sideline emptied as players raced away in jubilation, though Valentin Barco chose to celebrate directly in front of England players on the pitch.
“Substitute Lautaro Martinez's 92nd-minute header from Messi's cross sends Argentina past England into World Cup final”
Tensions had simmered throughout. Argentina fans booed God Save the King as England took the pitch, and the hosts were mercilessly jeered from start to finish. After the final whistle, Cristian Romero celebrated provocatively in front of Jude Bellingham, while Bellingham had earlier been involved in an altercation with Barco, slapping the Strasbourg defender. The match was marred by violent encounters outside the stadium and the display of a political flag referring to the Falklands.
Amid the hostility, England defender Marc Guehi extended an olive branch. As Lionel Messi conducted a post-match interview, Guehi walked past and, in Spanish, said: “Good luck for the final.” Messi paused his interview to reply: “Thanks, see you.”
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni revealed his side had identified and exploited England’s weakness. “We smelt blood and went for it,” he said, after his team’s overtly physical strategy unsettled England and forced numerous early infractions.
Argentina will now face Spain in the final, leaving England to rue what might have been — and a manager, Thomas Tuchel, whose decisions have been blamed for the semi-final exit.