{"id":15211339,"date":"2026-07-15T21:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T01:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/defending-champion-argentina-reaches-world-cup-final-by-beating-england-2-1\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T22:33:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T02:33:32","slug":"defending-champion-argentina-reaches-world-cup-final-by-beating-england-2-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/defending-champion-argentina-reaches-world-cup-final-by-beating-england-2-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England 2-1"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATLANTA (AP) \u2014 Lionel Messi sent in the cross that sent Argentina to the World Cup<\/a> final after another improbable comeback.<\/p>\n

Trailing 1-0 going into the last five minutes of regulation time, Messi fed a pinpoint ball to substitute Lautaro Martinez in the second minute of injury time to give the defending champions a 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Messi also provided the assist to Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute for the equalizing goal.<\/p>\n

At the end of another exhausting match \u2014 another match in which Argentina was stretched to the final minutes \u2014 Messi dropped to his knees in celebration.<\/p>\n

Argentina, which will play Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is now one game away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.<\/p>\n

Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute but the team’s other chances failed to find the back of the net.<\/p>\n

Fernandez scored the equalizer with a long range effort as Argentina pressed desperately for a goal, and Martinez headed in the winner with time running out.<\/p>\n

Argentina had to come through yet another tough match at this year’s expanded 48-team tournament after surviving scares against Cape Verde and Egypt.<\/p>\n

The game resumed one of the biggest rivalries in international soccer<\/a> and there was a raucous atmosphere in the stadium even before kickoff as both sets of fans tried to drown out the other team\u2019s national anthem.<\/p>\n

That continued on the field in a first half that was repeatedly broken up fouls.<\/p>\n

Leandro Paredes went in late on Jude Bellingham early in the game. Fernandez did likewise with Elliot Anderson soon after.<\/p>\n

A tense first half ended goalless, with no clear chances, but the game opened up after the break.<\/p>\n

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford denied Julian Alvarez and Gordon found the breakthrough for England, converting a cross from Morgan Rogers.<\/p>\n

Argentina pressed. Substitute Nico Gonzalez was denied by Pickford and Alexis Mac Allister came even closer with a header off the post.<\/p>\n

Source: News \u2013 Boston \u2013 whdh<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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