Argentina came from behind to beat England in Atlanta(Image: Getty Images)
England will not be winning the World Cup this year as Argentina came from behind to win 2-1 in Atlanta tonight. It was a tough watch for those across the country as the South American side broke the hearts of thousands up and down the country as they piled the pressure on shortly after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the 55th minute.
It was a tough opening 45 minutes as England fans were on tenterhooks while the Three Lions and their South American counterparts took it in turns to foul each other as tensions rose. The players looked like they were trying to tally up as many kicks as they could get in before a booking would come, with the game playing out into a bitty and tense opening half of football.
Despite the running theme of the tournament, the first hydration break failed to provide a change for fans across the world who were eagerly waiting on just a mere shot on target. But then came the second half. A lusciously open game of football that saw some of the best players in the world given the time to create chances.
Within two minutes of the second half Argentina went close as Alvarez went close at Pickford’s near post.
Jordan Pickford’s wife has ‘special feeling’ about World Cup in family update
Djed Spence is Premier League leader and offers Everton two transfer signings in one
But it was Liverpool’s own Anthony Gordon who opened the scoring. As Morgan Rogers played the ball across the goal, it was the newly signed Barcelona winger who was sprinting onto the teasing ball at the far post, beating Emiliano Martinez with England’s first shot on target of the match.
While the game had been unbearably tense before the goal, it somehow ramped up a notch, with Everton and England’s number one making an unbelievable save to keep out Gonzalez’s powerful header just seconds before the second hydration break broke play.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time.
Given Argentina’s run of scoring in 13 games in a row prior to this semi-final, it was an understandable change as the South American side made three changes themselves.
And it took just a matter of minutes for the second half substitute De Paul to whip in a perfectly placed cross where Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister thundered a header against the post.
Argentina continued to press England as they relentlessly tried to unlock the Three Lion’s back line and Thomas Tuchel looked to take no risks as he reinforced the back five with Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly with less than ten minutes to play.
Burn, a useful deployment in previous games, brought height, power and stature but it wasn’t enough as the continuous bangs at the door finally saw Argentina equalise through an Enzo Fernandez strike from distance.
The Chelsea midfielder got the ball out his feet and blasted the ball into the back of the net, across Pickford, from the right hand side of the edge of the box.
The Argentinian pressing continued, and even with Burn’s height, it was Lautaro Martinez’s goalscoring prowess that meant he was able to nod in Argentina’s winner, breaking the hearts of those across the country.
While last minute changes were made, including a first appearance of the World Cup from Ivan Toney, it was not enough to get England into the final.
Argentina will now take on Spain in New York on Sunday, with England going another four years without a second World Cup to the nation’s name.
