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Sports July 16, 2026

Argentina manager slams England following World Cup defeat

Argentina manager slams England following World Cup defeat

Argentina advanced to another World Cup final after a tense semi-final victory over England.

The defending champions struck the woodwork twice before Enzo Fernandez equalised with a shot from the edge of the box that beat the England goalkeeper.

England introduced defensive changes in an attempt to reach extra time, but Lautaro Martinez scored an injury-time winner to send Argentina through.

England v Argentina: Semi Final - FIFA World Cup 2026

Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday’s final as they pursue a second consecutive World Cup title, a feat achieved by only two nations before.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni called the comeback "so impressive" and said England appeared to doubt themselves late in the match.

"We were under a bit of pressure, but the opponent doubted themselves," Scaloni said. "We all felt it, we smelt blood and went for it."

SOCCER: JUL 15 FIFA World Cup 26 Semi-Final - England v Argentina

He noted that after England opened the scoring, his side demonstrated resilience beyond tactics and style of play.

Asked about reaching another final, Scaloni said he was lost for words and praised the squad’s refusal to accept defeat.

"A great happiness for our country and our people," he said. "This group never stops surprising me and never knows when they are beaten."

England v Argentina: Semi Final - FIFA World Cup 2026

Scaloni emphasised the difficulty of repeating such achievements and the effort his players have given throughout the tournament.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez criticised England’s approach after taking the lead, saying they played "backwards and backwards" instead of pressing forward.

"Sometimes when you are winning, you have to go forward anyway," Martinez said. "They put extra defenders and changed the gameplan."

Looking ahead to Spain, Martinez described the final as special for his country, family, and teammates.

He said back-to-back final appearances confirm the team is on the right path and expressed pride in everyone involved.

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