15/07/2026 21:04 - Deportes
The Argentine National Team wrote a new golden page in its history by defeating England 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. In a breathtaking match played on July 15, 2026, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the team coached by Lionel Scaloni (popularly known as "La Scaloneta") overcame an adverse scoreline in the final minutes and sealed their ticket to the grand final, where they will face Spain.
The match kicked off with extremely high intensity. England pressed high and tried to impose a direct style of play. Argentina, on the other hand, attempted to control possession and find depth through Leandro Paredes and the overlapping runs of Nahuel Molina and Nicolás Tagliafico. The first half ended in a goalless draw, though several yellow cards reflected the toughness of the clash.
In the second half, at the 10-minute mark, Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for England following a cross from Morgan Rogers, taking advantage of a defensive error from the South Americans. Far from collapsing, Argentina launched an all-out attack. Lionel Scaloni made key substitutions, bringing on Nicolás González, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolás Otamendi, Gonzalo Montiel, and Lautaro Martínez.
At the 40th minute of the second half, Enzo Fernández unleashed an impressive shot from outside the box that nestled into the top corner, beating Jordan Pickford and sparking absolute madness. When the match seemed destined for extra time, in the 48th minute, a perfect cross from Lionel Messi was met with a towering header by Lautaro Martínez, who rose highest in the air and sealed the historic 2-1 victory.
| Team | Formation |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez. |
| England | Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers; Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane. |
The British press reacted with pain to the elimination. Newspapers such as Daily Mail and Telegraph highlighted the "broken hearts" of the fans, showing images of the "Three Lions" lamenting. Daily Star headlined "It's all over", while The Sun and BBC used the word "cruelty" to describe the agonizing finish. Additionally, The Sun complained about the Argentine players' celebration with a flag that read "Malvinas son Argentinas" (Falkland Islands are Argentine), a highly sensitive historical and territorial topic between both nations.
View note on TNArgentina will play the 2026 World Cup Final next Sunday at 4:00 PM in New Jersey against Spain, who advanced by defeating France 2-0 in the other semifinal. The National Team seeks to defend the title obtained in 2022 and win their fourth star in World Cup history.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
