ATLANTA — Defending champion Argentina produced another dramatic late comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, booking a place in the World Cup final against Spain.Trailing 1-0 entering the 85th minute, Argentina struck twice in the closing moments through Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez to keep alive its bid for back-to-back World Cup titles.“I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score,” Martínez said. “I told him that I was going to come on and I was going to win it. This team keeps showing what it’s made of.”At the final whistle, Lionel Messi dropped to his knees in celebration as devastated England players collapsed on the pitch after another heartbreaking World Cup defeat to Argentina.The defending champions will face European champion Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in a clash between South America’s and Europe’s top-ranked teams.England appeared on course for victory after Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead in the 55th minute.Jordon Pickford produced several important saves as England attempted to protect its advantage, while Mac Allister struck the post as Argentina intensified the pressure.Messi, who had been largely contained for much of the match, changed the game in the closing stages. He set up Fernández, who fired home the equalizer from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute.Deep into stoppage time, Messi delivered a pinpoint cross that Martínez headed home to complete another remarkable comeback.Argentina had already recovered from difficult situations earlier in the tournament, surviving extra time against Cape Verde before overturning a two-goal deficit against Egypt in the round of 16.“I’m gutted for the team, the staff, the fans,” England captain Harry Kane said. “We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.”The defeat marked England’s third World Cup semifinal loss, following defeats to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018.“We played a good game for the majority of it,” Kane added. “When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try to hold on, which at this level is not enough. We’re close, we just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.”Argentina, meanwhile, moved within one victory of becoming the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.“We’re going to try to win, we’re going to leave everything out there,” coach Lionel Scaloni said. “It’s very difficult to get people to understand what these players are showing. It’s incredible. We are unique, truly, and it’s not arrogance, it’s from the heart.”ATLANTA — Defending champion Argentina produced another dramatic late comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, booking a place in the World Cup final against Spain.Trailing 1-0 entering the 85th minute, Argentina struck twice in the closing moments through Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez to keep alive its bid for back-to-back World Cup titles.“I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) that I was going to score,” Martínez said. “I told him that I was going to come on and I was going to win it. This team keeps showing what it’s made of.”At the final whistle, Lionel Messi dropped to his knees in celebration as devastated England players collapsed on the pitch after another heartbreaking World Cup defeat to Argentina.The defending champions will face European champion Spain in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in a clash between South America’s and Europe’s top-ranked teams.England appeared on course for victory after Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead in the 55th minute.Jordon Pickford produced several important saves as England attempted to protect its advantage, while Mac Allister struck the post as Argentina intensified the pressure.Messi, who had been largely contained for much of the match, changed the game in the closing stages. He set up Fernández, who fired home the equalizer from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute.Deep into stoppage time, Messi delivered a pinpoint cross that Martínez headed home to complete another remarkable comeback.Argentina had already recovered from difficult situations earlier in the tournament, surviving extra time against Cape Verde before overturning a two-goal deficit against Egypt in the round of 16.“I’m gutted for the team, the staff, the fans,” England captain Harry Kane said. “We worked so hard to be here. The lads have given every bit of blood, sweat and tears. To fall short like we did is just gutting.”The defeat marked England’s third World Cup semifinal loss, following defeats to Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018.“We played a good game for the majority of it,” Kane added. “When we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try to hold on, which at this level is not enough. We’re close, we just need to find that missing piece in the final stage of the tournament.”Argentina, meanwhile, moved within one victory of becoming the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.“We’re going to try to win, we’re going to leave everything out there,” coach Lionel Scaloni said. “It’s very difficult to get people to understand what these players are showing. It’s incredible. We are unique, truly, and it’s not arrogance, it’s from the heart.”
