15/07/2026 22:36 - Deportes
In a heart-stopping semifinal played on July 15, 2026 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Argentine National Football Team made history once again by defeating England 2-1 and securing their spot in the World Cup final.
La Scaloneta: This is the affectionate nickname for the current Argentine squad, derived from the name of their highly successful coach, Lionel Scaloni. It symbolizes a golden era of unity and triumph for the team.
Albiceleste: A common term used to refer to the Argentine team, meaning White and Sky-Blue, the colors of their flag and jersey.
The match started with a fierce clash between Leandro Paredes and Jude Bellingham following a foul by Enzo Fernandez, showing that the tension and historical rivalry were palpable from the first whistle blown by referee Ismail Elfath.
In the second half, the English team managed by Thomas Tuchel opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark thanks to Anthony Gordon, who took advantage of a mistake by Tagliafico after an assist from Morgan Rogers. However, the heart and grit of Argentina shone through.
At the 40-minute mark of the second half, Enzo Fernandez scored the equalizer with a beautiful strike, igniting the Albiceleste fans. The ultimate joy was sealed at 48 minutes when Lautaro Martinez connected a dramatic header following a precise cross from Lionel Messi, leaving the English goal exposed and sparking madness among the fans in Atlanta.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.
England: Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers; Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane.
The captain, Lionel Messi, aged 39, played his first match against England at the senior level. The star has accumulated 8 goals in the current tournament and 21 goals in World Cups throughout his glorious career, proving once again that magic knows no limits.
The security operation was unprecedented: over 1,600 police officers guarded the stadium, and the entry of flags referencing the Falkland Islands (known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina) was prohibited. The Malvinas are a territory over which Argentina and the UK have a long-standing historical dispute, which adds intense political and emotional rivalry to their sports encounters.
After the final whistle, the celebrations in the Argentine locker room included a Malvinas flag, which generated criticism in English media such as the Daily Mail, Express, and Telegraph. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) posted on their social media: We are unique and it is not arrogance, it is heart.
Argentina, the reigning world champion (1978, 1986, 2022), will face Spain this Sunday in New Jersey. Spain previously defeated France 2-0 in the other semifinal. La Scaloneta goes for more glory!
Alfredo S. Quiroga
