Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final with two goals in the closing minutes to overturn England's lead and win 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Anthony Gordon had given England the advantage in the 55th minute, finishing a move that appeared to put his side on course for a first final since 1966. But Argentina, driven by two assists from the 39-year-old Messi, struck through Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez deep in stoppage time to complete a turnaround that silenced the English contingent and sent the defending champions into a final against Spain.

Viewed from London and Jakarta alike, the defeat followed a script painfully familiar to England. After Gordon's goal, Thomas Tuchel's side retreated into a defensive posture, ceding possession and inviting pressure. Kane, the captain, later told broadcasters that the team had 'looked like we were trying to hold on' and acknowledged that such an approach was insufficient in a semifinal. European and Asian outlets noted that Tuchel introduced additional defenders, shifting to a back five, but the change failed to stem the Argentine waves. 'After our goal, whether they threw more men forward or we couldn't match them man for man, it was just wave after wave,' Kane said.

Kane, who scored six goals in the tournament, described himself as 'devastated' and spoke of the squad having given 'blood, sweat and tears.' He pointed to a recurring shortcoming: England have now reached at least the semifinals in four of the last five major tournaments without claiming a title. 'We need to review the game and find how to improve in these situations — it might be the missing piece of the puzzle from the last four tournaments,' he said. Asked about his own international future, the 32-year-old declined to commit to the 2030 edition, saying he would take it 'year by year' and citing Messi's longevity as an inspiration.

England will face France in the third-place match in Miami on Saturday, a fixture that offers little consolation for a side that believed it was closing in on a first trophy in six decades. Argentina, meanwhile, carry the momentum of a second consecutive final into their meeting with Spain, having once again demonstrated the resilience that has defined their campaign.