England’s hopes of reaching their first men’s World Cup final since 1966 were ended in dramatic fashion as Argentina scored twice late on to secure a 2-1 victory in the semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked set for the final after Anthony Gordon gave England the lead 10 minutes into the second half following a fiercely contested encounter.
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However, the reigning world champions produced a stunning comeback. Enzo Fernandez levelled the score with a superb strike five minutes from time before Lautaro Martinez bundled home the winner in stoppage time.
Speaking to BBC One after the game, England manager Thomas Tuchel said: “We’re disappointed, we were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances.
“We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots. “We were close but couldn’t keep the level up after we scored.”
Tuchel added: “I did also offensive substitutions in the last games, we just tried to help the players. We conceded [a chance] straight away and we decided to go to a back five because the gaps were far too open.
“They won every header, they kept crossing and crossing so we went to a back five to close the gaps inside and be strong in the air.
“Straight after our goal, without any substitutions, we conceded way too many crosses and way too many chances so we tried to help. “Of course, the responsibility is on the coach and if it doesn’t go well, it is easy to say it was wrong.”
England will now face France in the third-place play-off, while Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.
Spain booked their place in the showpiece with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday. New Liverpool signing Victor Munoz, who joined from Osasuna this summer, was an unused substitute in Dallas.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half before Pedro Porro sealed Spain’s victory with a second goal just before the hour mark.
The final will also feature a Liverpool reunion, with Spain’s Munoz set to come up against Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who helped Argentina reach a second successive World Cup final.