England's TOTAL COLLAPSE. Five minutes from a first World Cup final in 60 years, England surrendered their lead and Lionel Messi struck twice at the death with two assists to send Argentina through 2-1. Messi claims another victim as the champions reach a SECOND straight final. Full semi-final breakdown below.
England did everything right for 85 minutes. Anthony Gordon fired the Three Lions ahead early in the second half, they'd contained Messi, and a place in the final was in their grasp. Then they sat back, and it cost them everything. Messi, quiet all afternoon, came alive in the closing minutes: first drawing England's defenders and releasing Enzo Fernandez to smash home an 85th-minute equaliser, then drifting to the right wing to whip in a pinpoint cross that substitute Lautaro Martinez headed in during stoppage time. Two goals in six minutes, both made by Messi, and England's 60-year wait for a final goes on in the most agonising way imaginable. Argentina — the death-defying defending champions who have now survived scare after scare this tournament — march on to face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday, chasing a feat no nation has managed since Brazil in 1962: back-to-back World Cups. I break down England's fatal retreat, Messi's decisive cameo, and what it sets up in the final.
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