Messi inspires late Argentina comeback to break England hearts

By Robert Mutasi

Lionel Messi engineered a spectacular comeback for Argentina against England in their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to keep the defending champions on track for back-to-back titles.**

England were agonisingly close to reaching their first World Cup final for 60 years before succumbing to relentless pressure from Lionel Scaloni’s team, who roared back to win 2-1.

It sets up a final between reigning European champions Spain and South American champions Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday.

Anthony Gordon fired England ahead in the 55th minute, getting in front of Nahuel Molina to sidefoot home Morgan Rogers’ cross. Rogers had been selected by Thomas Tuchel and delivered with a fantastic cross for the goal.

For 84 minutes, Jordan Pickford was having a brilliant game, making three difficult second-half saves to keep it 1-0, but Argentina refused to be beaten.

Enzo Fernandez smashed home an equaliser from outside the box – from 1-0 down after 84 minutes to 1-1 – before substitute Lautaro Martinez rose to head home Messi’s cross in the 92nd minute to complete the comeback.

Messi was described as “quiet as a church mouse for 80 minutes, loud as a lion for the final 15” – with the winning ball a pinpoint perfect, right-footed cross over a sea of defenders.

It is a bitter blow for England, whose wait to return to the World Cup final for the first time since 1966 goes on.

Tuchel defended his tactics after England appeared to hand the initiative to Argentina, while captain Harry Kane was left to rue a game where he had little influence against Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez.

For Argentina, 39-year-old Messi is now into another World Cup final, having faced England for the first time in his career at the semi-final stage.

Argentina will now face Spain, after Spain ended France’s hopes in the other semi-final.

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