England’s World Cup dream ended in the most agonising fashion in Atlanta as Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to snatch a 2-1 victory in the semi-final. Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in stoppage time after Enzo Fernández had equalised in the 86th minute, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s side shell-shocked and contemplating yet another tournament heartbreak.
Anthony Gordon had put England in front shortly after half-time, raising hopes of a first World Cup final appearance since 1966. But Tuchel’s decision to switch to a back five in the final quarter, replacing Gordon with Ezri Konsa, invited pressure. The head coach had successfully used the same tactic to see out a 3-2 win against Mexico in the last 16 while down to 10 men, but this time it backfired.
“Argentina's late double breaks England hearts in World Cup semi-final.”
“I accept responsibility,” Tuchel said after the match. “The tactical shift gave them momentum. We wanted to protect the lead, but it invited them on to the front foot.” Argentina dominated the closing stages, their champion courage undimmed. Fernández drove home a fierce equaliser from a short corner worked via Lionel Messi, and England were floored. They thought they had escaped when Alexis Mac Allister hit the post for the second time, but Messi recycled the move and crossed for Martínez to head home unmarked.
The defeat extended a familiar pattern for England. The Guardian’s match report described it as “an implausibly brutal new low” in a long history of tournament disappointment. Tuchel admitted the results up to this point had “outstripped the performances”, and the semi-final exposed the fragility beneath the surface.
England had arrived in the United States with high hopes after a gripping domestic season. The editorial in The Guardian noted that both England and Scotland would compete in a men’s World Cup for the first time this century, and Tuchel’s squad flew out to a pre-tournament camp in Miami on Monday. Scotland, who also qualified, flew to Florida on Sunday. But for England, the journey ends in Atlanta, with Argentina advancing to face either Brazil or Germany in the final.
For the old enemy, it was one of their greatest fightbacks. For England, the what-ifs will linger long after the final whistle.