Messi wants another World Cup

A display of attacking football over the final half hour sent Argentina into Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain. Lionel Messi refused to let the dream end. He kept demanding the ball, again and again, and Lautaro Martínez’s winner came from one of his perfectly weighted crosses... with his right foot. It was the reward for Argentina’s relentless attacking play and the wave of chances they created after the break, when they finally played with freedom. The question is why the world champions spent the opening hour refusing to embrace that style, only rediscovering it once they fell behind.

In the end, it was England who became overly conservative, believing time-wasting and game management would be enough against an Argentina side that produced football of the highest quality in the closing stages, orchestrated by a conductor named Leo Messi.

The battle in Georgia fortunately remained on the pitch. Away from the stadium, coexistence between supporters in Atlanta was largely peaceful, apart from two groups of Argentine ultras who clashed among themselves. On the field, however, the match descended into an ugly, scrappy contest with almost no football for the opening quarter, at least until the hydration break.

The first confrontation arrived after just two minutes, and from then on every foul, or even the slightest coming together, sparked another melee. White shirts constantly littered the turf. Chances? None. From either side. It was football of a completely different kind from the other semifinal between Spain and France. Same sport, different philosophies. Both were valid as long as the referee allowed it, and Ismail Elfath’s permissive approach to physical play had already been evident during Spain’s quarterfinal against Uruguay.

The pattern repeated itself throughout the half: a foul, followed by pushing, arguments and players crowding around one another. Even when Elfath blew for halftime, he was immediately surrounded by players from both teams, each shouting their complaints. It had all become part of the tactical battle.

As expected, one of those incidents eventually changed the mood. This time it was sparked by a heavy challenge from Anderson on Messi after the Argentine captain had danced past several defenders. Following the confrontation and the resulting free kick, Argentina finally seemed to wake up, with Enzo Fernández at least testing Jordan Pickford from distance.

I would have loved to write about a first half of unforgettable football, the kind worthy of a World Cup semifinal. But this was Atlanta, not Dallas. A different city, a different state and, judging by what unfolded, almost a different version of football. Different methods, same objective.

Argentina emerged after the break with far greater intent. Julián Álvarez finally forced Pickford into action, but it was England who struck first. After Tagliafico failed to deal with a loose ball, Morgan Rogers looked up and slipped a pass into the area. Nahuel Molina’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Anthony Gordon, who reacted quickest to beat the defender and fire England ahead.

From that point on, England retreated deeper and deeper, content to defend their lead while focusing almost exclusively on stopping Messi, from whom virtually every dangerous Argentine move originated.

The siege became Argentina’s only option. England camped inside its own half while the South Americans threw everything forward. Had they played with that urgency from the opening whistle, the story might have been very different. Fortune was not immediately on their side. Alexis Mac Allister struck the post, Julián Álvarez squandered a clear opportunity and Lautaro Martínez also went close. Those chances came when Argentina trusted their quality instead of engaging in the game’s darker arts.

As the clock ticked down, Argentina once again showed why they never stop believing. Messi attracted two defenders, creating space for a teammate. Enzo Fernández took advantage and, with some help from Pickford, equalised five minutes from time. Mac Allister rattled the woodwork once more before Messi produced another moment of brilliance, setting up Lautaro Martínez to calmly score the winner. Argentina had done it again.

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England

• 1 Jordan Pickford
• 5 John Stones (95')
• 24 Reece James (81')
• 25 Diop Spence (95')
• 6 Marc Guehi
• 10 Bellingham
• 8 Elliot Anderson
• 17 Morgan Rogers
• 4 Declan Rice (81')
• 18 Anthony Gordon (71')
• 9 Kane
• Substitutes
• 7 Bukayo Saka
• 23 James Trafford
• 3 Nico O'Reilly (81')
• 15 Dan Burn (81')
• 20 Nonso Madueke
• 11 Rashford (95')SC
• 12 Trevoh Chalobah
• 21 Eberechi Eze
• 2 Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (71')
• 13 Dean Henderson
• 14 Henderson
• 22 Ivan Toney (95')SC
• 16 Kobbie Mainoo
• 19 Ollie Watkins

Argentina

• 23 Emiliano Martínez
• 3 Tagliafico (80')
• 26 Nahuel Molina (71')-
• 6 Lisandro Martínez (71')
• 13 Cristian Romero
• 20 Alexis Mac Allister
• 24 Enzo Fernández
• 5 Paredes (63')
• 17 Giuliano (71')
• 9 Julián Álvarez
• 10 Messi
• Substitutes
• 25 Facundo Medina
• 16 Almada
• 19 Otamendi (71')
• 7 De Paul (71')
• 11 Lo Celso
• 14 Exequiel Palacios
• 1 Musso
• 4 Montiel (71')
• 15 Nico Gonzalez (63')
• 18 Nico Paz
• 2 Marcos Senesi
• 12 Rulli
• 8 Valentín Barco
• 22 Lautaro Martínez (80')
• 21 José Manuel López

Substitutions

Nico González (63', Leandro Paredes), Ezri Konsa (71', Anthony Gordon), Rodrigo De Paul (71', Giuliano Simeone), Gonzalo Montiel (71', Nahuel Molina), Nicolás Otamendi (71', Lisandro Martínez), Lautaro Martínez (80', Nicolás Tagliafico), Dan Burn (81', Reece James), Nico O'Reilly (81', Declan Rice), Ivan Toney (95', John Stones), Marcus Rashford (95', Djed Spence)

Goals

1-0, 54': Anthony Gordon, 1-1, 84': Enzo Fernández, 1-2, 91': Lautaro Martínez

Cards

Referee: Ismail Elfath
VAR Referee: Marco Di Bello, Juan Lara
Elliot Anderson (36',Yellow), Lisandro Martínez (41',Yellow), Cristian Romero (50',Yellow), De Paul (93',Yellow)