England beats Argentina 2-0 in Atlanta to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 1966. Goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane secure the win in a tense and physical semifinal.
In a pulsating World Cup semifinal at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, England secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Argentina to book their place in the final.
The match, played in front of a raucous crowd of over 70,000, was marked by intense physical battles, tactical discipline, and moments of individual brilliance. England's goals came from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who both continued their stellar tournament form. Bellingham opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a thunderous strike from outside the box after a well-worked corner routine.
Kane doubled the lead early in the second half, converting a penalty after a VAR review for a handball against Argentina's Lisandro Martínez. Argentina pushed hard for a comeback, with Lionel Messi having a goal disallowed for offside and Julián Alvarez hitting the post. But England's defense, marshaled by John Stones and Marc Guéhi, held firm. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves, including a fingertip stop from a Messi free kick in the 78th minute.
The victory sets up a final showdown against either France or Portugal, with England aiming for their first World Cup title since 1966. The match featured a fierce rivalry that dates back decades, including Argentina's Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal in 1986. The tension was palpable from the start, with both teams committing hard tackles. Referee Ismail Elfath had to intervene multiple times to calm players, notably after a late challenge by Argentina's Enzo Fernandez on Elliot Anderson.
Argentina fans taunted England supporters with the chant 'Whoever doesn't jump is English' throughout the match. Off the pitch, former England captain David Beckham was in attendance with his wife Victoria, a reminder of his own red card in a 1998 matchup against Argentina. Beckham was seen celebrating England's goals with fellow fans.
Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia, who is under investigation for corruption, was photographed sitting alongside Messi and Rodrigo De Paul in a luxury box. Notably, over 100 inmates at Rikers Island correctional facility watched the match as part of a good behavior program. Inmates who had been incident-free for at least 30 days gathered in a gymnasium decorated with balloon towers and soccer ball balloons. The event was organized to promote rehabilitation and morale.
England's lineup saw changes from previous matches, with Thomas Tuchel opting for Morgan Rogers on the right wing and starting Reece James and Djed Spence in defense. For Argentina, Lionel Messi led the attack as he sought a second consecutive World Cup title, but England's tactical discipline and resilience proved too much. The losers will play France on Saturday for third place, while England now await their final opponent.
The victory sparked jubilant scenes in the stands, with England fans singing 'Football's Coming Home' as their team took a lap of honor
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