16/07/2026 20:35 - Deportes
The Argentine National Team proved once again why they are the reigning world champions. In a match that will be remembered for decades, the team managed by Lionel Scaloni (affectionately known as 'La Scaloneta' by fans) overcame England 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, securing their ticket to the grand final.
The match, played on July 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, started off complicated for the Albiceleste. English forward Anthony Gordon opened the scoring at the 55th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error. However, the Argentine team's resilience shone through in the most crucial moments.
The starting eleven was: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, and Julián Álvarez. The referee for the match was Ismail Elfath.
English coach Thomas Tuchel was heavily criticized for parking the bus after the 1-0, which led to England having only a 12% possession rate between the 55th and 92nd minutes. This allowed Argentina to impose their style and achieve an incredible comeback in the last 7 minutes of the match.
Argentina now prepares for what will be the ultimate battle of this World Cup. The grand final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, which has a capacity of 82,500 spectators.
Their opponent will be Spain, who reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the other semifinal, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. For those in Argentina, the historic event will be broadcasted on local networks TV Pública, Telefe, TyC Sports, and DSports.
In a very special moment, Lionel Messi, who at 39 years old played his first senior match against England, received the actual jersey worn by Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona during the historic 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The gift included a message that read 'Enjoy it from above', bringing tears of joy to Argentine fans everywhere.
The victory unleashed euphoria across the entire country. In Mar del Plata (a major coastal city in Argentina), thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate. Security forces had to assist two young men who suffered falls from the Monument to General San Martín and a traffic light in the city center; thankfully, they were hospitalized while fully conscious. Even legendary rock musician Charly García stepped out onto his iconic balcony in Buenos Aires to celebrate the historic triumph.
With this result, Argentina reaffirms its status as a favorite and keeps the hope alive for a new World Cup title to add to their glories from 1978, 1986, and 2022. Let's go Argentina, the final awaits!
Alfredo S. Quiroga
