By Kede Aihie
Argentina booked their place in the World Cup 2026 final with a 2-1 win over England in a match defined by one team’s control and the other’s retreat.
England started brightly and took the lead through a Gordon tap-in. But instead of pushing on, Thomas Tuchel’s side dropped deep. The pressure told after the break as Konsa, Bun, O’Neil, Rashford and Toney were all brought on in the second half, yet the changes only added to a defensive posture England couldn’t shake.
That invited Argentina back in. They looked weary early, but were lifted by their captain. Messi conducted the game like an orchestra. His pass found Enzo Fernandez, who punished sloppy England defending to equalize.
The winner came from the same source. Another Messi cross carved England open and Argentina made it 2-1. It caps a remarkable tournament for Messi: 8 goals and 4 assists so far.
England had no answer in midfield. Declan Rice struggled to get a foothold, and the backline was under constant pressure. Chasing the game, England went to a back five, but still couldn’t get out of their own half.
The numbers told the story. England finished with just 12 percent possession and spent most of the night chasing shadows. Too passive, and too willing to sit on a lead, they were picked apart by a team with the mindset of champions who never give up.
It was deja vu. Sixty years of hurt continues. Argentina will now face Spain in the final.
