England vs Argentina (1-2): 2026 World Cup Semi-Final Highlights

Argentina beat England 2-1 with late goals from Enzo and Lautaro. Get the schedule for Sunday's World Cup final against Spain!

Published: July 15, 2026

Argentina is heading back to the World Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 win over England in Atlanta. What looked like a tough defeat turned into another shot at the title for the reigning world champions, who refused to give up.

The first half was a physical, low-scoring battle filled with fouls, yellow cards, and very few real chances for either side. The deadlock broke in the 55th minute when Anthony Gordon made a sharp run to the far post to give England a 1-0 lead. Instead of pressing for a second goal to finish the game, England manager Thomas Tuchel shifted his strategy. He switched to a five-man defence, sitting deep and handing possession over to Argentina.

That tactical choice changed everything. Argentina took total control of the midfield and pressed hard against the English defence. After hitting the post twice and building heavy pressure, they finally found the equalizer. In the 85th minute, Enzo Fernandez found open space outside the box and fired a powerful, long-range strike past Jordan Pickford to tie the game.

The momentum was all Argentina’s. In the 92nd minute, Lionel Messi took control and delivered a precise cross into the penalty box. Substitute Lautaro Martinez rose above the defence and headed the ball home to seal the 2-1 victory and complete the comeback.

Argentina will now defend their title against Spain – who eliminated France – in the World Cup final this Sunday, July 18, at 3:00 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, England will face France in the third-place playoff match on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Pick for England vs Argentina

The upcoming 2026 World Cup semi-final clash between England and Argentina in Atlanta promises to be an absolute thriller for soccer fans. Both nations arrive with star-studded rosters, but they also bring noticeable vulnerabilities that savvy bettors can exploit.

Argentina, the defending champions, boast the tournament’s most lethal attack with 17 goals, largely orchestrated by the timeless magic of Lionel Messi and the sharp finishing of Julián Álvarez. However, their defence has been remarkably porous. They have conceded six goals already, and their fullbacks, Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico, look highly susceptible to being exposed by the sheer pace of England’s wingers in one-on-one matchups.

On the other side of the pitch, England has also leaked six goals, failing to secure a clean sheet since the group stage. Despite their defensive question marks, the Three Lions have shown immense resilience. Manager Thomas Tuchel has masterfully used tactical tweaks and impactful substitutions to alter the course of games. Furthermore, Jude Bellingham has arguably been the player of the tournament, driving the midfield and constantly threatening the 18-yard box with his well-timed late runs.

While England is slightly favoured to advance, the most compelling angle for this match is the goal total. Both squads feature elite attackers facing off against backlines that have consistently shown cracks under pressure.

My Bet: Over 2,5 Goals @ +137 on bet365

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