World Cup: Tuchel, Messi and why Argentina beat England in semifinal

Argentina secured a place in the World Cup final by overcoming England 2-1 in a semifinal match held in Atlanta on Wednesday. The defending champions will now meet Spain in Sunday's championship match, seeking their fourth World Cup title after previous victories in 1978 and 1986. England must play France on Saturday for third place.

England's tactical approach centered on defensive solidity after taking a 1-0 lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute. The team deployed a back five and attempted to absorb pressure, a strategy that had worked against Mexico and Norway in earlier rounds. However, the approach backfired against Argentina's relentless attacking play. England's possession dropped to just 12 percent during the period between scoring and conceding, with six defenders on the pitch at times and most players positioned behind the ball. This left the team without an outlet to relieve mounting pressure.

Argentina's equalizer came in the 85th minute, followed by a winner in stoppage time. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a world-class save from Nicolas Gonzalez, but Argentina had multiple chances before finally breaking through, with Alexis Mac Allister hitting both posts. England coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged responsibility for the defeat while defending his tactical choices, stating he had no regrets despite the outcome.

Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, proved instrumental in Argentina's comeback. The captain created both goals while managing his energy across all four of Argentina's knockout matches. Despite facing close attention and rough tackles early in the match, Messi demonstrated his ability to escape defensive pressure and deliver decisive creativity. This marks the third time since 2018 that England has lost a major championship semifinal or final after taking the lead, following an identical pattern of early advantage, defensive struggle, and eventual defeat.