ATLANTA — Defending champions Argentina rallied with two late goals to beat England 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup semi-final, overturning a second-half deficit to book a place in Sunday's final against Spain and extend one of international football's most storied rivalries.
England appeared on course for their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon put Thomas Tuchel's side ahead in the 55th minute, finishing from close range after a cross from Morgan Rogers. The Three Lions defended their advantage for much of the second half before Argentina mounted a decisive late comeback.
Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area before Lautaro Martínez headed in the winner in stoppage time, both goals coming from assists by captain Lionel Messi. The turnaround sent Lionel Scaloni's team into a seventh World Cup final as they seek to retain the title they won in Qatar in 2022.
The result ended England's hopes of reaching the championship match despite another deep tournament run. England will now face France in the third-place playoff, while Argentina will meet Spain in the final.
England manager Thomas Tuchel defended his tactical decisions after the match, rejecting criticism that his side became overly cautious after taking the lead. He said his substitutions reflected his judgment during the game and acknowledged the challenge posed by Argentina's late pressure. Tuchel also said the physical demands of the tournament may have affected his team's performance but urged his players to finish the competition strongly in the playoff for third place.
Harry Kane described the defeat as deeply disappointing, saying England had competed well for long periods but were unable to withstand Argentina's late surge. He said the squad would seek to respond positively in their remaining match of the tournament.
The semi-final added another chapter to the long-standing football rivalry between Argentina and England, with the South American side again prevailing on the World Cup stage. Argentina's victory keeps alive its bid to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the men's World Cup title. The final against Spain is scheduled for Sunday in the New York-New Jersey area, according to FIFA.
