World Cup 2026: Argentina break England hearts and head for final with Spain – live
Key events
Barney Ronay was at Atlanta Stadium as Lionel Messi helped turn the game against England. The Argentina captain only occasionally breaks into a run these days. He often looks bored by what is unfolding around him. But it is hard to imagine Messi as anything other than the most impactful footballer on the pitch even as he is about to become the oldest outfield player ever to appear in a World Cup final.
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Well, not to this lot anyway. On a day of ceaseless rolling noise under Atlanta’s vast refrigerated dome, England reached the end of the road, the end of their own capacities at this World Cup, the end of the gears within this team. Mainly they ran into Lionel Messi, who wasn’t ready to be done just yet. Not like this anyway.
With 55 minutes gone England were actually winning this game, 1-0 up thanks to Anthony Gordon’s goal, the only real moment of clarity they produced all match. At which point they simply disappeared as an animate entity from the stage.
Lionel Messi will play in a third World Cup final at the age of 39 after helping to drag Argentina over the line with a pair of assists in their semi-final win against England.
But was Messi’s effervescent best enough to earn a perfect rating? And what score did England’s captain Harry Kane earn as his side failed to hang on to their spot in a World Cup final in the dying stages? Ed Aarons was at Atlanta Stadium marking the players as the action unfolded.
Jude Bellingham Fired up from the start, came close to losing his rag in injury time – couldn’t save England this time.
Anthony Gordon Has come of age at this tournament. Will never forget scoring in a World Cup semi-final.
There was pleasure and pain inside Atlanta Stadium and far beyond. Here is a little taster with a full picture gallery of shots from the England and Argentina semi-final below …
Preamble
Martin Pegan
And then there were two. Whether you’ve been celebrating Argentina’s come-from-behind triumph or commiserating England’s World Cup exit with a heavy heart, the focus will soon turn toward the final between the reigning champions and Spain.
But before we reach that point, there is still time to catch up on Argentina’s semi-final win against England, and all that happened and was said in the aftermath of yet another memorable World Cup clash between the bitter rivals.
And where better to start than David Hytner’s report from the thrilling match at Atlanta Stadium.
England’s destiny is tournament heartbreak. The only question concerns when it comes and how the fates will contrive to make it as painful as possible. This was an implausibly brutal new low.
If you have any thoughts on the World Cup semi-finals, early predictions for the final or just feel the need to vent – shoot me an email, or find me on Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
