England collapse late as Argentina reach World Cup final

Argentina struck twice in the final seven minutes to beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, overturning Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener. England’s bid to reach a first World Cup final since 1966 ended in the same ruthless stretch, with Enzo Fernandez equalising in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martinez scoring the winner in the 92nd.

Alex Howell’s player ratings captured the scale of the collapse with a blunt headline: “The change didn’t work.” The judgment was less about one mistake than about a plan that held for long spells before Argentina’s late adjustments took the game away from England, turning a controlled lead into another painful knockout exit.

The ratings also showed where England still had individual positives. Jordan Pickford was judged more assured than in the previous match against Norway, a small but important lift in a game where England needed calm under pressure. Djed Spence stood out for his one-v-one defending and pace, while Elliot Anderson was credited with his best in-possession performance of the World Cup.

Those bright spots did not change the final pattern. England had taken control through Gordon’s finish after 55 minutes, but Argentina remained in range and forced the match into a decisive late phase. Once Fernandez levelled and Martinez completed the turnaround, England were left with no time to recover, and the semifinal ended as another reminder of how quickly knockout matches can slip away.

Argentina’s comeback sent Lionel Messi’s side into the final against Spain, while England were left to absorb a defeat that followed the same familiar knockout script: an early advantage, a narrow margin, and then an opponent who found the sharper answers when the game turned.