Argentina ended England’s World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory in the semi-finals, setting up a final appearance for Lionel Messi’s side. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead, but Enzo Fernández struck a stunning equaliser before substitute Lautaro Martínez headed the winner to break English hearts.
England player ratings
Jordan Pickford (7) – The goalkeeper stood little chance with either finish from Argentina, though he produced a sensational save to deny Nicolás González late in the match.
Reece James (7) – Dominated his flank after returning to the side following injury, justifying his selection with a strong defensive display.
John Stones (7) – A rock at the back until the final ten minutes, when his lack of recent game time appeared to catch up with him.
Marc Guéhi (7) – Delivered another reliable performance in defence, putting in a solid shift despite finishing on the losing side.
Djed Spence (8) – Won over doubters with an excellent showing. He produced a tackle reminiscent of Bobby Moore to deny Giuliani Simeone when clean through.
Elliot Anderson (7) – Produced another all-action display in midfield. He received a booking for a robust challenge on Messi but demonstrated he belongs at this level.
Declan Rice (6) – Looked far more like his usual self but was withdrawn as England attempted to protect their advantage.
Morgan Rogers (7) – Deployed in an unfamiliar role on the right flank, he repaid the faith by creating Gordon’s goal with a brilliant assist.
Jude Bellingham (6) – Fired up from the start and came close to losing his discipline during injury time, though he could not produce another rescue act.
Anthony Gordon (8) – Scored England’s goal and has come of age during this tournament. He will long remember finding the net in a World Cup semi-final.
Harry Kane (5) – Provided the long pass that led to England’s goal, but the captain will feel hugely disappointed not to have made a greater impact on the match.
Substitutes: Ezri Konsa (5) slotted into the back three but was at fault for Argentina’s equaliser. Dan Burn (5) and Nico O’Reilly could not prevent Messi’s cross for the winner. Ivan Toney (6) and Marcus Rashford (6) entered too late to turn the tide.
Argentina player ratings
Emiliano Martínez (6) – Had no chance with Gordon’s strike and was largely a spectator for the remainder of the contest.
Nahuel Molina (6) – Struggled to contain the combination play of Spence and Gordon down Argentina’s right side.
Cristian Romero (8) – Squared up to Bellingham inside the first minute and showed nifty footwork to escape trouble.
Lisandro Martínez (7) – Walked a tightrope after receiving a first-half booking, making his eventual substitution no surprise.
Nicolas Tagliafico (5) – Had his hands full with Rogers, and his error allowed Gordon to score.
Leandro Paredes (5) – Set an early physical tone with a reducer on Anderson but could not exert his usual dominance in midfield.
Enzo Fernández (8) – Inches away from an amazing first-half goal before breaking England’s hearts with a stunning equaliser.
Alexis Mac Allister (8) – The Liverpool midfielder struck both posts in an unlucky moment but was back to his best overall.
Giuliani Simeone (6) – Always in the thick of the action but could not convert his chance when clean through.
Lionel Messi (9) – The captain produced imperious touches and mazy runs that belied his age. He underlined why he deserves to conclude his career on football’s biggest stage.
Julián Alvarez (8) – Caused huge problems for England down the left flank throughout the afternoon, looking every inch Messi’s heir.
Substitutes: Nicolás González (8) was denied an equaliser by Pickford but added impetus. Rodrigo De Paul (8) helped change the game after his surprise omission from the starting line-up. Lautaro Martínez (8) proved the hero with a brilliant header for the winner. Nicolás Otamendi (7) and Gonzalo Montiel (7) also contributed positively.
What happens next
The defeat ends England’s World Cup journey at the semi-final stage. Argentina advance to the final, where Messi will have the opportunity to sign off on the biggest stage of them all.