England’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup final were extinguished in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, as Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to secure a 2-1 semifinal victory. What initially appeared to be a memorable night for the Three Lions quickly turned into another painful chapter in the nation’s long pursuit of international glory.
Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute had given England a valuable advantage and placed Thomas Tuchel’s side within touching distance of a place in the championship match. However, as the second half progressed, England increasingly retreated into a defensive posture, allowing Argentina to gain momentum.
That shift in approach ultimately proved costly. Enzo Fernandez equalized in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner during stoppage time, completing yet another comeback for the defending champions and sending Lionel Messi to one final World Cup title match.
In the aftermath, former France international Thierry Henry offered a direct assessment of the result. Speaking as part of FOX Sports’ World Cup coverage, the World Cup winner dismissed the notion that England had been unfortunate, instead arguing that Argentina was the better team over the course of the evening.
1. Henry’s Straightforward Assessment
When asked to explain how England’s lead slipped away, Henry did not hesitate in his response. His verdict was concise: Argentina deserved to win.
According to Henry, England’s downfall was not rooted in a single mistake but rather in a broader tactical decision. He suggested that Thomas Tuchel’s strategy of protecting the lead was understandable in principle, but that it was implemented too early in the match.
After Gordon’s goal, England gradually moved deeper into its own half and focused on preserving the advantage rather than extending it. While such an approach can often succeed in tournament football, it also carries significant risks against elite opponents.
Henry emphasized that the issue was not necessarily the decision itself, but the timing. By abandoning its attacking intent with substantial time remaining, England effectively handed control of the match to an Argentine side featuring one of the greatest playmakers in football history.
2. Argentina Takes Control
As England retreated, Argentina began to dictate the tempo. Lionel Messi found increasing amounts of space, while midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister became more influential as possession tilted heavily in favor of the defending champions.
Argentina’s persistence nearly paid off before the equalizer when Mac Allister struck the post with a long-range effort in the 76th minute. It served as a warning sign that England struggled to heed as the pressure continued to mount.
The statistics reflected Argentina’s growing dominance. Lionel Scaloni’s side finished the match with 14 shots compared to England’s six, while consistently forcing Jordan Pickford into action during the closing stages.
Eventually, the breakthrough arrived. Fernandez’s strike from outside the penalty area in the 85th minute energized Argentina and shifted the emotional balance of the match. Moments later, Messi delivered another moment of brilliance, assisting Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage-time winner to complete the comeback.
3. Another Argentina Escape
The semifinal victory was consistent with the narrative of Argentina’s tournament. Throughout the knockout rounds, the defending champions have repeatedly found ways to survive difficult situations, often relying on late goals and resilience to advance.
Their path to the final has included extra-time victories and dramatic recoveries from deficits, reinforcing the belief that this team possesses an uncommon ability to perform under pressure. Against England, that trait once again proved decisive.
For England, the defeat extends a frustrating run of near misses on the international stage. Despite reaching another semifinal and demonstrating considerable quality throughout the tournament, the Three Lions remain in search of their first World Cup title since 1966.
Argentina, meanwhile, now stands one victory away from history. Sunday’s final against Spain offers Messi an opportunity to conclude his World Cup career with consecutive championships, while the nation attempts to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the title.