How Messi’s Argentina punished England’s retreat to turn World Cup semi-final match on its head in 10 minutes | Football News
England look set to reach the 2026 World Cup finals. Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute strike gave Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead and, as time expired, England did what they had done against Norway and Mexico at the World Cup and maintained their advantage.but against Lionel Messi In Argentina, the plan only lasted so long.Messi provided two assists in the final minutes as Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday (local time) and book a spot in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain. Enzo Fernandez equalized the score in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez scored with a header from Messi’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time. Argentina once again completed its comeback.This was another example of Argentina finding a way late in the game. They have scored 11 goals after the 75th minute of this tournament.For most of the first 60 minutes of the game, England controlled Messi well. Whenever Argentina attacked from the back, Tuchel’s side crowded the center of the pitch. Whenever the ball was passed to Messi, Elliot Anderson stayed close to Messi, giving the Argentine captain no time to turn. England also ensured they always had numbers in the middle of the pitch, with Harry Kane often dropping deep to help close passing lanes.This makes Messi’s life uncomfortable. By half-time, the 39-year-old had lost possession 15 times, more times than he had lost in the opening 45 minutes at either the previous two World Cups or Copa America. Neither side is willing to take unnecessary risks. Only three shots were produced in the first half, while physical contact resulted in 19 fouls as both teams tried to seal off space rather than create it.Even after Gordon’s goal, England continued to deny Messi space. By the 60th minute, he had only created one chance, and none of his three crosses had reached his teammates.But the game slowly changed.
England’s fight to avoid relegation shattered by Argentina Masters
England dropped deeper and deeper to maintain their lead. Tuchel made some changes to strengthen the defence, but those substitutions also invited the Argentinian striker. Between Gordon’s goal and Lautaro Martinez’s winner, England had just 12 per cent of the ball.This allows Messi and his team to dominate the game.Instead of receiving the ball in a crowded midfield, he began to move into wider positions where he had more time and space. Argentina also found more space through Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis McAllister, extending England’s compact defensive shape.About 10 minutes before the equalizer, DePaul made a pass from the right and McAllister’s shot hit the post. It was a warning that England were struggling to get out of their own half.Soon after, Argentina created another chance. While eight England outfield players were positioned around their own box, marking just three Argentinian strikers, Enzo Fernandez, Messi and De Paul left space outside the box.Fernandes received the ball and drove forward, forcing Jordan Pickford to make a save. In the end, Argentina equalized the score in the 85th minute.
England are getting closer and closer to their own goal in order to hold on to their lead, hoping to build an impenetrable wall like they did when they beat Mexico with 10 men in the last 16.Tuchel replaced Dan Byrne with defender Reece James and midfielder Declan Rice with defender Nico O’Reilly in the 82nd minute.The equalizer struck right into England’s exposed area.Messi received the ball from the right and found Fernandez outside the penalty area. Jude Bellingham showed signs of fatigue but could not press him quickly enough and the Chelsea midfielder fired from distance to make it 1-1.With nine minutes of stoppage time remaining, Scaloni’s men continued to press forward while England struggled to move their defense further upfield.The decisive moment came in the second minute of stoppage time.Argentina kept coming and England’s walls kept coming down. The defending champions hit the crossbar but missed another header from goalmouth but Martinez eventually blocked the ball with a powerful close-range header but the England defender lost him in Messi’s cross. Lautaro Martinez timed his run to perfection, outrunning his own man and heading past Pickford to send Argentina into another World Cup final.England relied on defensive formations to hold on to leads against Mexico and Norway earlier in the game. Against Argentina, however, holding back only added to the pressure.By ceding territory, England allowed Messi to influence the game. Argentina kept moving the ball, stretching the defense, and eventually found the space they needed.“They were tired,” Martinez said after the game. “They lasted 60 minutes and then they ran out of steam. They scored and then they backed off. It gave us more composure to move the ball and stretch the floor.”
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