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We’re afraid it’s not coming home. Again.
When Anthony Gordon put England ahead in Wednesday’s semi-final against Argentina, it felt like things could finally be different, and that the Three Lions really might reach their first World Cup final since 1966.
But then they sat back and invited Lionel Messi and co. onto them. That was certainly a choice.
Enzo Fernández equalised with a shot from the edge of the box with five minutes to go, and by then the momentum had shifted to such an extent that Lautaro Martínez’s winner in stoppage-time felt more inevitable than it did dramatic. It was, though, another show of the impressive mental strength of Lionel Scaloni’s side.
It sets up a mouth-watering final on Sunday in what could be called the ‘Couldn’t beat Cape Verde in 90 minutes derby’ as defending world champions Argentina meet European champions Spain, while England must play the consolation third-place play-off against France a day earlier.
In today’s SVQ, we look back at the second semi-final in Atlanta, while our Ask Opta question is also about that game, and our Mystery Golden Boot comes from a wonderful summer in Brazil.
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🤯 STAT - Comeback Kings Strike Again
There have been quite a few comments during this World Cup that Argentina have been ‘unconvincing’.
It seems quite harsh considering they are the defending champions and the top scorers at this tournament with 19 goals, but then again, they haven’t really enjoyed a comfortable win at any point in the knockout stages.
Lionel Scaloni’s men had to go to extra-time to overcome Cape Verde in the last 32 and 10-man Switzerland in the quarter-finals, while they had to come from 2-0 down with 11 minutes to go to get past Egypt in the last 16.
So, when Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute on Wednesday, we should have all known things were far from over.