Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said his players capitalised on England’s loss of confidence to secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon, but Argentina responded with an equaliser from Enzo Fernández before Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross deep into stoppage time to send the defending champions into a second successive World Cup final.
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Speaking after the match, Scaloni said his side recognised a shift in England’s mentality after they went ahead.
“The opponent doubted themselves a bit. We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it,” Scaloni said.
The Argentine coach praised his players for remaining composed after conceding first, saying the team’s response reflected its character and belief.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez also claimed England became increasingly defensive after taking the lead, allowing Argentina to seize control of the match.
“We felt them going backwards and backwards rather than going forward. Sometimes when you are winning, you have to keep attacking. They changed their game plan, and I think that helped us,” Martínez said.
Scaloni also hailed his team’s resilience ahead of Sunday’s final against Spain, expressing pride in the players’ determination to defend their World Cup crown.
Argentina will face Spain in Sunday’s final, while England will take on France in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
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