Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Lionel Messi has described Argentina's dramatic 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England as a "special" win, dedicating the come-from-behind triumph to the Argentine fans and the late Diego Maradona as the defending champions secured their place in Sunday's final against Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The 39-year-old captain provided both assists on a night of high emotion at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, first setting up Enzo Fernandez for a stunning 85th-minute equaliser before delivering the cross that allowed substitute Lautaro Martinez to head home the stoppage-time winner in the 92nd minute.
Anthony Gordon had given England the lead in the 55th minute, and for much of the second half, Thomas Tuchel's side appeared on course for a first World Cup final appearance since 1966. But Argentina, who had already mounted a comeback from two goals down against Egypt in the last 16, refused to relent. "This team never stops trying," Messi said after the game. "We went out there playing football and with real determination. We pinned them back in their own half and showed we could win it in normal time, without going to extra time".
The significance of facing England was impossible to ignore. The match was played against the backdrop of a simmering sovereignty row over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, adding extra emotion to one of international football's fiercest rivalries. "Although it was just one match, we experienced some special moments," Messi said. "The fans wanted this victory more than any other, because of what it means to face England in a semi-final and reach another World Cup final".
Messi also paid tribute to Maradona, who passed away in 2020 and famously scored the "Hand of God" goal against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final before going on to lift the trophy. "Diego was truly great. I never wanted to compare myself to him; as far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest of them all," Messi said. "Today, wherever he is, he'll be happy, enjoying all of this, given how much the national team meant to him and the legacy he left behind. It's a gift for him".
Victory was non-negotiable for the Argentine captain. "No Argentine wanted to lose this match," he said. "The way this entire World Cup has unfolded has been incredible, especially considering the significance of this semi-final against England. No one wanted to lose today, setting aside any other context, but that's how it is". He also acknowledged that defeat would have triggered unfair criticism despite Argentina arriving at the tournament as reigning world champions.
Lautaro Martinez, who scored the winner just 11 minutes after coming on as a substitute, struggled to contain his emotions. "It's very difficult to speak right now, but I'm going to try not to cry because I already cried a lot in there," the 28-year-old said. "It's incredible what we've achieved. We've kept moving forward, and that's the greatest satisfaction we can have".
Looking ahead to Sunday's final, Messi will face Spain for the first time in his World Cup career—a country where he spent most of his club career at Barcelona. "Spain is a great team with outstanding players and a very distinctive style of play. They're a team I know very well, with a football philosophy they've been following for many years. I know their players too," Messi said. "I've faced many of them, and I still follow them. Several of them play for Barcelona, a club I love and continue to follow. So it will be a special match because it's a World Cup final, and naturally I expect it to be a very even game".
Spain reached the final by defeating France 2-0 in the other semi-final, and the showdown at MetLife Stadium promises a historic clash between the reigning world champions and the defending European champions. Messi, who now has 21 World Cup goals and 13 assists to his name, has been preparing for this moment since the end of last year. "I've been preparing and training for a year now, and I knew I was going to give it my all to be in the best possible shape," he said.
For England, the defeat was a devastating blow after they matched Argentina for much of a hard-fought contest. Captain Harry Kane expressed his heartbreak. "Just gutted for the boys, gutted for everyone, the team, the staff, the fans. We played a good game for the large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold on. At this level, that is not enough". The Three Lions will now face France in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
Argentina will now prepare for another World Cup final, with Messi on the brink of leading his country to a second successive world title and adding another remarkable chapter to his legendary career. The final kicks off on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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