England 1-2 Argentina: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Three Lions devastatingly fall at semi-final hurdle

Argentina came from down to grounds a 2-1 triumph implicit England successful the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup connected Wednesday.

Anthony Gordon sent England up aboriginal successful the 2nd period, but Argentina levelled done Enzo Fernandez 5 minutes from time, earlier Lautaro Martinez came up with a stoppage-time winners for the satellite champions.

Argentina volition present instrumentality connected European champions Spain for the trophy connected Sunday, portion England volition purpose to decorativeness 3rd erstwhile they tackle France connected Saturday.

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SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

Our @FIFAWorldCup semi-final ends successful defeat. pic.twitter.com/4kAn35O31o

— England (@England) July 15, 2026

The hold goes connected for England. It conscionable wasn't to be.

Gordon's effort aboriginal successful the 2nd play near England fans dreaming, but the unit from Argentina was conscionable excessively overmuch to resist, and the changes from Thomas Tuchel volition travel nether the microscope pursuing the precocious turnaround.

England sank deeper and deeper, with Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly being introduced, and determination was conscionable nary out-ball for the Three Lions.

In contrast, Argentina's changes made them better, with the unit increasing, and Alexis Mac Allister doubly deed the station during an onslaught from the satellite champions.

This was expected to beryllium England's year, but the hold and the wounded goes on.

Gareth Southgate faced immense disapproval for his handling of matches successful the second stages of tournaments, and Tuchel got it incorrect here. It is simply a dense terms to pay.

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ENGLAND VS. ARGENTINA HIGHLIGHTS

Anthony Gordon extremity vs. Argentina (55th min, England 1-0 Argentina)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

Breakthrough! 

England instrumentality the pb successful the 58th infinitesimal of the contest, arsenic Gordon converts a Morgan Rogers transverse into the backmost of the net; the Three Lions person the pb with small implicit 30 minutes to play.

Enzo Fernandez extremity vs. England (85th min, England 1-1 Argentina)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

Argentina level the scores successful the last stages of the match, and it is simply a fantastic onslaught from Fernandez, who finds the backmost of the nett from distance.

Fernandez has travel adjacent a fewer times, and this 1 was a sensational strike.

Lautaro Martinez extremity vs. England (92nd min, England 1-2 Argentina)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 15, 2026

Oh my goodness me. Lautaro Martinez.

Argentina person turned this crippled astir successful the second stages to lead, with the Inter Milan striker heading a transverse from Messi into the backmost of the net.

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MAN OF THE MATCH - LIONEL MESSI

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026

Him again.

Djed Spence had been unthinkable for England and would person secured this grant had the Three Lions won 1-0, but Messi was sensational for Argentina successful the last 30 minutes.

Messi acceptable up some of Argentina's goals, and helium was the subordinate conducting the satellite champions.

What a footballer. Little other tin beryllium said.

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ENGLAND VS. ARGENTINA MATCH STATS

Possession: England 36%-64% Argentina

Shots: England 5-15 Argentina

Shots connected target: England 2-5 Argentina

Corners: England 1-6 Argentina

Fouls: England 11-15 Argentina

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BEST STATS

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026 — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026

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WHAT NEXT?

Argentina march connected to the last of the 2026 World Cup, with the South Americans acceptable to instrumentality connected Spain for the trophy connected Sunday.

As for England, the Three Lions volition present look France successful a third-placed playoff connected Saturday, and Tuchel's squad volition beryllium looking to extremity the tourney connected a affirmative note.

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