The World Cup final is set: Spain v Argentina. The defending champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday night’s semi-final in Atlanta, settling one of football’s great rivalries with a late, ruthless turnaround.
England had done the hard part. Anthony Gordon turned in Morgan Rogers’ superb cross on 54 minutes, and for half an hour the Three Lions could see the final. But the champions’ response came when it hurt most: in the 85th minute Enzo Fernández, played in by Lionel Messi, equalised after a VAR review — and in the second minute of stoppage time Lautaro Martínez headed home the winner, after Alexis Mac Allister’s effort came back off the post and Messi crossed the rebound into the box.
Messi finished the night with two assists and remains level with Kylian Mbappé on eight goals in the Golden Boot race — one he can now settle in the final itself. For England, the wait goes on: since their 1966 triumph, they have still never reached a World Cup final.
Sunday in New York promises a blockbuster: a Spain side that swept France aside in arguably the tournament’s best performance, against champions chasing history — Argentina can become the first nation to retain the World Cup in more than 60 years, since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
The final: Spain v Argentina — Sunday 19 July, New York New Jersey Stadium.