Havana, July 15 (RHC) – Lionel “The Master” Messi delivered a precise pass and Lautaro “Toro” Martínez burst down the left flank, outpacing the English defenders, heading in the 2-1 goal in the 90+2 minute, sending Argentina into the 2026 World Cup final.
From the stands, packed with euphoric Argentine fans, came a chant of “Thank you, Maradona,” as if the “God” were guiding the “Albiceleste” from heaven… Perhaps he was, and to reaffirm history, the players unfurled a banner and placed it in the middle of the field with the statement: “The Falklands are Argentine.”
It was a fantastic semifinal match at Atlanta’s stadium, in which both teams imposed discipline and control in midfield, with the defenders effectively closing down their respective penalty areas to support their goalkeepers. A truly superb game.
That’s how they went into halftime; when the match resumed, the action remained evenly balanced until the 55th minute when Declan Rice intercepted a pass, threaded the ball to Anthony Gordon, who was making a run down the right flank, and delivered a brilliant cross that Gordon converted with his right foot, putting the “Three Lions” ahead 1-0.
It was a tough blow, too tough. The fans felt it, and discouragement overwhelmed many, except for the Argentinian team on the pitch, who intensified their thirst for a goal and a victory, for the necessary draw, and unleashed an offensive that only an exceptional Pickford could contain, defending the English goal like the lion he is.
Time and again, the Argentinians attacked the English penalty area until, in the 82nd minute, Enzo González, once again playing the hero role in this World Cup, unleashed a rocket from outside the box for a spectacular goal that leveled the score at 1-1.
The 90 minutes of regulation time arrived; the Moroccan referee, Ismail Elfath, added nine minutes of stoppage time; coach Lionel Scaloni made three changes, one of which was the introduction of “Toro” Martínez, giving the Argentinian attack more impetus.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Messi delivered another precise cross from the right, and Lautaro Martínez burst into the box like a rocket. No English defender could stop him, and he headed home the winning goal with a superb header. A thunderous roar erupted in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina.
The Albiceleste simply had to hold on for the remaining minutes until the final whistle. Thomas Tuchel’s England side attempted a couple more attacks, but the defenders held firm until Elfath blew the final whistle.
Now, Argentina has reached the World Cup final for the second consecutive time and will face a resurgent Spain, who deservedly defeated France, the tournament’s strongest team.
The Argentine team played with immense passion, and also for the Falklands War, for Diego Maradona, and for Leo Messi’s second World Cup title.
