How Argentina battled from the brink to earn dramatic late win over England

The Three Lions were looking to play their first World Cup final in 60 years, with La Albiceleste aiming to make it to their second in a row.

Messi and Kane hoping to lead their country to the final

At 39 years of age, Lionel Messi had led his side to the last four with eight goals along the way, the joint-most along with Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.

For England, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, both with six goals each, had helped to drag the team through some epic battles, perhaps none more so than against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. 

With the injustices felt because of the 'Hand of God' and David Beckham controversies still rankling, supporters who had travelled across the Atlantic were hoping for some sort of payback against an Argentina side that hadn't been at their best in the tournament, yet had still won all six of their matches, scoring 17 goals.

One more against England, and they would have equalled the most they'd ever scored in a single World Cup tournament, coming way back in 1930.

Physical start from both sides

Argentina had conceded six in that time, the same as a Three Lions outfit that had won five and drawn one of their last six, scoring 13.

The stage was set.

Kane, making a record 121st appearance for an England outfield player, and Messi, making a record 33rd World Cup appearance, led their teams out into an incredible wall of sound.

A physical opening to the match from both sides was to be expected as they looked to exert some early authority and set the tempo.

It was clear that England had been given instructions by Thomas Tuchel to press at every opportunity, with Anthony Gordon shutting down Emi Martinez on three occasions in the opening four minutes.

With 10 minutes played, six England players still had a perfect 100% pass completion as Tuchel's men knocked the ball around with confidence.

Stop-start

Jordan Pickford had only touched the ball on five occasions, as had Messi, who had been completely isolated to that point.

As a spectacle, the match left a lot to be desired in the early stages as petty foul after petty foul was committed, forcing the official to consistently stop play. To underline the point, by the hydration break in the 24th minute, 11 free-kicks had been awarded.

No touches in the opposition box for any player on either side told a story, as did Elliot Anderson's four successful one-on-ones from six attempted, and Leandro Paredes' two from four.

Three tackles attempted by Paredes indicated how much forward momentum England had at times, with Djed Spence attempting three dribbles as he vied to get up and help his attackers.

Both of his early tackles were won, too, as were two of his three one-on-ones, in what was fast turning into an all-action individual performance.

Spence and Gordon causing problems

He and Gordon continued to cause problems down Argentina's right-hand side, though as the game moved towards the latter stages of the first half, Messi's influence began to unsettle the English midfield.

Neither side had had a shot of any description in the opening half hour, despite their best efforts - the first time that had happened since 1966 - though Enzo Fernandez soon went close with a long-range rocket.

A period of play in which La Albiceleste had the Three Lions on their heels looked as if it could prove fruitful for them, but importantly, from an England point of view, Argentina still hadn't had a shot on target.

Morgan Rogers, who had been preferred at the expense of Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka, had only attempted five passes before the whistle was blown, suggesting that Tuchel had perhaps got that selection wrong.

Stones and Guehi imperious

Collectively, overall possession favoured the Argentines at the break, but individually, England's players were still holding their own. 

Their centre-back pairing of John Stones and Marc Guehi had played 63 passes between them in the opening 45, and every one had found its target.

Along with Anderson's industry in midfield (12 duels before the break, the most on both sides), they were ensuring the reigning champions weren't having everything their own way.

Julian Alvarez's two shots in quick succession right at the start of the second half, after a simple long ball from Martinez was missed by Spence, put England on notice, though the Three Lions' ability to push back almost immediately was laudable.

Rogers finds Gordon for the opener

Jude Bellingham had had a relatively under-the-radar performance by his standards, but the winning of possession twice, half of his 10 duels and four fouls indicated his influence was still intact.

A break in the 55th minute saw Rogers make his first telling contribution with a pinpoint cross to Gordon, who stole in at the back post and slotted home the opener with England's first shot on target.

Whilst it gave them impetus and purpose, it merely stoked the fire as Argentina came right back at them, and it needed a 'tackle of the tournament' from Spence on Giuliano Simeone to stop an immediate equaliser.

By the hour mark, 43.8% of the action had been played in the England defensive third, but with a narrow back five in play, Argentina were unable to break through.

Gonzalez changes the focus for Argentina

Tuchel's men had got their noses in front and were now providing a defensive master class.

That changed once Nico Gonzalez replaced Paredes. He'd already forced a couple of corners before his towering header was expertly turned around the upright by Pickford, with his first real save of note.

A triple substitution for Argentina directly after the second hydration break saw them take full control of possession, and England were lucky to escape again when a flying header from Alexis Mac Allister cannoned back off the inside of the upright.

Gonzalez's back post header somehow stayed out, whilst 84% collective Argentine possession was beginning to panic the Three Lions.

Fernandez arrows in the equaliser

26 clearances and an inability to get forward after Gordon's goal saw Tuchel act decisively, as he brought on both Dan Burn and Nico O'Reilly for Declan Rice and the injured Reece James.

A 5-4-1 formation still wasn't enough to stop Enzo Fernandez from arrowing in a stunning effort with five minutes to play, as the pressure eventually told.

With nine minutes of injury time to play, and with six defenders on the pitch, England were going to find it tough, and after Mac Allister had hit the post once again, Messi provided another assist, this time for Lautaro Martinez to fire Argentina ahead for the first time in the game.

It was no more than they deserved after an incredible response to going behind, and they were now being led by Messi, whose eight successful dribbles from 11 attempted and 10 duels won from 17 attempted were by far the most on show.

Too little, too late for Tuchel's England

Ivan Toney's first minutes of the tournament came in the wake of that second Argentine goal, as England threw the kitchen sink at their opponents in the final minutes of stoppage time.

With Dan Burn also playing as an auxiliary striker, Tuchel's men had to be brave, but they were ultimately undone by the substitutions that the manager had made earlier in the game in order to protect their lead.

So near, and yet still so far for the Three Lions...

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