- Its Albiceleste 2 vs Three Lions 1
- Never write the champions off
- Argentina battle Spain for El-Mundial title on Sunday, July 19
BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Down by a goal late in regulation time, the man many football fans love to call the GOAT, Lionel Messi stepped up majestically and engineered defending champions Argentina to a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over England to reach their second consecutive FIFA World Cup final.
The impressive comeback took place inside the state-of-the art Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta after Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the 55th minute, but the Albiceleste refused to surrender.
Every time Captain fantastic got near the ball, the crowd in Atlanta held its breath. It wouldn’t take much to feel the room shift during the first hour or so of Argentina versus England clash, just a brief moment where the Argentinian icon drifted into enough space to maybe, perhaps, do something.
As the game wore on, the crowd’s sudden silences stopped sounding like bated breath and started sounding like fear as well as potential reality setting in. However, with this Argentina side, reality just seems to be different. It wasn’t Messi who gave the pro-Argentinian crowd their ability to breathe, but he did play his part exceedingly well.
Once again, the defending champions, came back from the brink in a World Cup game. They never make it easy, but they always seem to make it through against all odds. Going behind to the Three Lions about 10 minutes into the second half, Messi and company stormed back with two late goals to earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory that sends them to a second consecutive World Cup final.
Not surprising at all, it was the Inter Miami’s captain who provided the assists for both goals, but, on this day, he wasn’t the magic man; his supporting cast made the difference. First up was Enzo Fernandez, who had previously been well-managed by England’s star-studded midfield.
In truth, all the heartaches that Argentina suffered in the hands of England for 85 minutes suddenly disappeared with one swing of the Chelsea midfielder’s foot. As his shot sailed past a helpless Keeper Jordan Pickford, the crowd in Atlanta erupted in deafening cheers. From there on, it felt like a matter of time before the chicken come home to roost for the Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Then disaster struck. Two minutes into stoppage time, with momentum building, Argentina seized the moment to seal the game. Messi’s pinpoint delivery landed right on the head of Lautaro Martinez, who couldn’t miss from close-range. He didn’t, and Argentina were through with an iconic victory. From all indications, the champions could still be champions again come Sunday, July 19, 2026 as the face European Champions, Spain who overwhelmed pre-tournament France 2-0 in the first semi-finals decided on Tuesday.
This one wasn’t easy, but none of the wins that came prior were, either. Tested by a physical and motivated England team, Argentina were cornered but never conquered. Welcoming the chaos the tournament has produced so far, the South American champions survived the brink to claim one last shot at the final, ready to stun the world one more time.
