Argentina rally to beat England 2-1, reach World Cup final vs Spain

sportsJul 16, 2026561,021

Argentina overturned England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal after Lionel Messi created both late goals, setting up strikes by Enzo Fernández and substitute Lautaro Martínez to win the match. England took the lead shortly after halftime through Anthony Gordon and looked on course for a first final since 1966, but manager Thomas Tuchel’s switch to a five-man defence, including the introduction of Dan Burn, failed to hold the lead. Tuchel later sent on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford in a bid to recover, but Argentina’s pressure proved decisive in the closing stages. The game featured heated moments around national anthems and partisan crowd noise, and Argentina’s players celebrated after the win with a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas." Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final.

Men in Blazers Media Network

@meninblazers.bsky.social

CAPE VERDE’S LEGEND KEEPS GROWING 🇨🇻 The Blue Sharks held both 2026 World Cup finalists level after 90 minutes, giving Spain and Argentina arguably their toughest tests of the tournament 👏

1957h ago

Quoting this

Luigi de Guzman8

Cabo Verde: the true winners

Tpryor history repeats itself6

We all know who really won this tournament.

Mik Duffy.

@mikduffy.bsky.social

I'm happy. Not because England lost but because their media would be intolerable in the event of a World Cup victory. Jingoism cranked up to new heights, Oasis music on every highlight reel, TV presenters being smug, hastily compiled TV specials about how football came home. We've been spared.

836h ago

Henning Strack1

Not just their media. Their fans would also be insufferable for at least a decade.

𝕃𝕒𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕄1

A glance thru the “today’s papers” section of the BBC website would show you the horrors that would await even if they got to the final …

Pike ☄️🏳️‍⚧️

@redcomets.net

I don't really actively follow the World Cup so most of my experience with it is "this is the thing where every four years England gets hyped about winning and then loses"

937h ago

Pike ☄️🏳️‍⚧️33

It's okay I understand this intrinsically as a Mariners fan

LⱯuren8

their big rallying song is about how being an England fan is an exercise in pain and futility, and includes the lyrics "30 years of hurt" bc the last time they had won when it was written was 30y ago, and its been another 30y since the song was written.

Brent Toderian

@brenttoderian.bsky.social

The ads went up quick. Gonna be a good one. #WorldCup #Spain #Argentina

Street advertisement announcing the Final, Spain versus Argentina Sunday with a picture of Lamine Yamal and Messi. #FIFA

417h ago

Robert Jago3

As a Native American, I'm conflicted. Because I hate that Dr Who-looking mother-hugger in Argentina, but Spain is the colonizer, but then Spain is super woke on Palestine, hmmm...

Michaela Klinkert 💚2

This came also back up quickly again 😉

Scarlet Rose

@scarlet-rose.bsky.social

Just heard the news England is out of the running and now it'll be Spain vs Argentina for the World Cup. Well shoot... I was rooting for the English after my nation got knocked out. Only one thing left to do: Olé, Olé, Olé!

457h ago

Col needs to retire

@colken.bsky.social

Anyhoo, I'll be cheering on Spain on Sunday on account of the dodgy pro-Argentine decisions in this World Cup and their supporters being a bit scummy to other fans 🇪🇸

477h ago

JB1

Nah, I'm team Mac Allister all the way. Also, Rodri's comments about Scotland can get him in the bin.

pishposhbeech1

Me too. I'm absolutely gutted England lost today.

timoconnorbl.bsky.social

@timoconnorbl.bsky.social

Haiti were not allowed their jersey with this tiny image. It really could not be clearer as to how the pitch it tilted, could it? www.espn.com/soccer/story...

267h ago

Jonathan Ladd

@jonathanmladd.com

It’s confusing. In the World Cup, team England is the lovable tortured losers. But in world history, England the country is…. not that.

347h ago

SCREENY

@screenonymous.bsky.social

They're going home! :D 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 has been eliminated from World Cup contention. 🇦🇷 IS WORLD CUP FINAL BOUND!

306h ago

David Ornstein

@david-ornstein.bsky.social

🚨 Harry Kane tells @theathleticfc.bsky.social too early to know if this was last World Cup with England but says Messi playing at 39 shows why he will “never put a limit on”. 32yo captain adds representing #England “my pride & joy; what love to do more than anything” www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

366h ago

Callum16

I hope it is. He's never had the legs and always fades horribly as knockouts progress. An amazing player for England but the inability of managers to take him off when his legs go is inexplicable and costs us again and again. Tonight, at 1-0 up, he was a total waste of space.

BrighterBeat9

If only he'd shown an ability to run and press in that 2nd half, even close to the amount of passion he says he has. He looked like a player with zero energy left. Kane was useless tonight, utterly useless. But we have no other world-class strikers, so he'll play in the '28 Euros.

Declan Healy7

Harry Kane (who again was anonymous in a big game) staying on will damage England for the next 4 years and potentially longer as he pulls the ladder up behind him for future players.. and Messi he most definitely is not

duffmid.bsky.social4

Maybe don't play golf next time with the guy who jinxes everything he touches

johnjohncph.bsky.social2

Sat out the last two games

Stuart Dillon2

We need to find an alternative, we didn't have a striker on the pitch for the second half

Shawn🐶

@puppiesandanime.bsky.social

Cabo verde won the world cup. These last couple matches are just for fun.

336h ago

Hunter Walker

@hunterw.bsky.social

I'm going to go ahead and suggest the number of people who got really mad and called me racist for saying Argentina is my fifth favorite team in this World Cup is a good example of how this site can be a bit much and not fun.

337h ago

Hunter Walker14

Also, the person who suggested a Maradona jersey is some kind of right wing stance might not know as much about soccer or Maradona as they think they do.

🇪🇸 👻 🇪🇸1

This is why I still like Reddit more for a lot of topics, when you're in a subreddit about football, you talk about football, and if you try to spin it into some political angle then you're banned by moderators.