Argentina beats England 2-1 to reach World Cup final

By Ananya Iyer — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina secured their place in the World Cup final after a 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta. The win sees Argentina advance to face Spain in Sunday’s final, aiming for their fourth title. England, meanwhile, will play France in the third-place match.

The match saw Lionel Messi play a pivotal role in Argentina’s comeback, creating both goals for his side. Despite being a veteran, Messi’s footballing intelligence and ability to conserve energy for crucial moments were evident throughout the semi-final encounter.

England’s early tactics and Messi’s adaptation

In the first half, England implemented a high-press strategy, with wingers Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers tasked with pressing Argentina’s central defenders. Midfielders Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, and Elliot Anderson focused on stifling Argentina’s central play, with Anderson specifically marking Messi. England’s initial energy saw them effectively disrupt Argentina’s rhythm, with Anderson notably intercepting passes and challenging Messi.

However, as the game progressed, Messi began to take deeper positions, forcing Anderson to make decisions about how far to follow him. Messi’s deceptive walking pace allowed him to suddenly burst into action, drawing defenders and creating space. This adaptation by Messi, along with England’s press fading due to fatigue, allowed Argentina to gradually gain control and move the ball up the pitch as a unit.

England took the lead through Anthony Gordon. Following this goal, England adopted a more defensive posture, reverting to a back five, a tactic they had used successfully in previous knockout rounds. This decision, however, proved less effective against Argentina. Between Gordon’s goal and Argentina’s equaliser, England maintained only 12% possession, spending much of the second half defending deep.

Messi’s influence and tactical adjustments

Messi’s ability to exploit weaknesses in England’s defensive structure became crucial. He adapted to Anderson’s aggressive approach, holding the ball to draw the player out of position before releasing it into the space Anderson had vacated. For Argentina’s opening goal, Messi drew multiple defenders towards him after a short corner, creating significant space for Enzo Fernandez to strike the equaliser in the 85th minute.

Messi also recognised and exploited Bellingham’s defensive positioning. When Bellingham was caught high up the pitch or drawn to the ball, Messi would position himself in the space behind him, often on the right flank. This allowed Argentina to sustain attacks and create dangerous crosses into the box, sometimes resulting in a three-against-two overload if Bellingham did not track back.

England coach Thomas Tuchel’s decision to move to a back five, and later a 5-4-1 formation after Declan Rice’s substitution, aimed to gain numerical equality in the box and provide better coverage in wide areas. However, Messi recognised that with England’s back five pinned deep, the three central midfielders struggled to cover the width of the pitch. This allowed Messi to play closer to goal while maintaining his deeper, right-sided role.

The introduction of Nico Gonzalez, Lautaro Martinez, and Rodrigo de Paul, combined with the tactical switch of Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister’s roles, further bolstered Argentina’s attacking threat. Lautaro Martinez ultimately secured the winning goal in stoppage time with a header from Messi’s cross, sealing the 2-1 victory for Argentina.

Celebrations and future prospects

The victory sparked widespread celebrations in Argentina, with fans taking to the streets of Buenos Aires. The atmosphere in the capital was described as euphoric, with supporters singing and waving flags. The passion of Argentina’s fan base was evident, making the team feel at home in Atlanta.

Messi’s performance underscored his enduring brilliance, as he now sits among the top scorers and has provided assists in the tournament. His World Cup assists now stand alongside his goals in the global showpiece event. Argentina will now prepare to face Spain in the final on Sunday.

Source: bbc.com