Argentina Stuns England With Two Late Goals to Storm Into the World Cup Final

Argentina snatched a place in the World Cup final with one of the most dramatic finishes of the tournament, scoring twice in the closing minutes to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday and set up a showdown with Spain.

For much of the match, it looked as though England would end its long wait for a return to the final. Anthony Gordon gave Thomas Tuchel's side the lead in the 55th minute, and the English defense held firm against wave after wave of Argentine pressure. But the reigning champions refused to fold, roared on by a sea of light-blue shirts that turned the stadium into a cauldron of noise.

The equalizer arrived in the 85th minute, when Enzo Fernandez collected the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a swerving shot from 20 yards that flew past the England goalkeeper. The goal stunned the English players, and the momentum swung decisively. Deep into second-half stoppage time, Lautaro Martinez rose highest to head home the winner in the 92nd minute, sending Argentina's bench sprinting onto the pitch in celebration.

The result puts Lionel Messi, chasing a fitting coda to his storied career, back in the final for a second straight tournament. Argentina now stands one win away from defending the title it captured four years ago, and Messi from adding another chapter to a legacy already among the greatest the sport has known.

On the other side of the bracket, Spain booked its ticket with a commanding 2-0 victory over France, riding a young and fearless squad that has dazzled throughout the competition. Sunday's meeting will be the first World Cup final ever contested between the reigning champions of Europe and South America, and the first time the top two teams in the FIFA world rankings have met in the final since the rankings were introduced in 1992.

For England, the loss extends an agonizing drought and leaves Tuchel to reckon with a team that pushed the champions to the brink but could not close the deal. For Argentina, it is one more improbable escape in a tournament full of them, and a chance on Sunday to lift the trophy once again.