Argentina show England they are more than Messi to reach World Cup final

England thought they had Argentina exactly where they wanted them. Lionel Messi was largely shut down, the defending champions looked vulnerable and Thomas Tuchel’s side sensed they had finally cracked the code. But champions rarely need a second invitation. Argentina punished every offense as Messi’s supporters emerged from his shadow to inspire a 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory in Atlanta on Thursday (July 16), book a second straight World Cup final and keep their title defense alive.

England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup 2026: Highlighting

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Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

Jul 16, 2026 02:52 IST