The 2026 World Cup was incredible right up until the final, though not through the final itself. In his Football Extra column, Pat Nevin reflects on why the showpiece fell flat and whether it will be Lionel Messi's last match on the grandest stage.
Brash midfielder has admirers in Madrid, though his World Cup displays illustrate what he can offer Xabi Alonso’s BluesEnzo Fernández was an unstoppable mix of style and spite during Argentina’s win over England. The midfielder’s first contribution during Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta was to plough into Elliot Anderson and clobber Manchester City’s new £116m signing round the head. He escaped without a booking, though, and made the most of some generous refereeing by showing the other side to his game when Argentina took control after going 1-0 down early in the second half.Much has already been said about England’s attempt to hold on to their lead. A particular frustration for fans who watch the Premier League every week was that not enough was done to disrupt Fernández. The Chelsea midfielder is a wonderful player in possession but can struggle when opponents run past him. That weakness has caused structural issues for Chelsea and will be a factor if they decide to sell the Argentinian this summer. Against England, though, Fernández was given space to do as he pleased during the second half. He pulled the strings next to Alexis Mac Allister and proved his big-game mentality by scoring the equaliser with a bending shot from 25 yards in the 85th minute. Continue reading...
Adrian Sousa from Rabona TV reviews a heartbreaking semifinal collapse for England as Lionel Messi's late brilliance sends the defending champions back to the final. The dream of bringing football home has dissolved in the most agonizing way imaginable. In an incredibly tense, dramatic World Cup Semifinal in Atlanta, a familiar script played out on the global stage. On the latest edition of Rabona TV, host Adrian Sousa dissects the structural choices that led to England’s devastating late collapse. Listen to the full tactical semifinal breakdown on Spotify to hear the complete post-match analysis. For 85 minutes, England did absolutely everything right. Thomas Tuchel’s side remained organized, suffocated dangerous spaces, and kept a quiet Lionel Messi isolated from his creative partners. The tactical game plan yielded the ultimate reward early in the second half when Anthony Gordon fired the Three Lions into a deserved 1-0 lead. With a spot in the final just five minutes away, England made the fatal decision to sit back, lower their defensive block, and try to absorb pressure. When you invite the greatest playmaker of all time to orchestrate outside your penalty area, you pay the ultimate price. Having been neutralized for the majority of the afternoon, Messi turned the entire match on its head with a pair of late, devastating moments: The Equalizer (85th minute): Messi drifted centrally, dragging the English central defenders with him before releasing a perfectly weighted ball to Enzo Fernández, who smashed home the equalizer.The Winner (Stoppage time): Pulling out to the right wing, Messi whipped a pinpoint, curling cross over the defensive line that substitute Lautaro Martínez powerfully headed past Jordan Pickford to complete the stunning turnaround. The lightning-fast, six-minute comeback extends England’s agonizing 60-year wait for a World Cup final appearance. Instead, the tournament bracket moves forward with a monumental, mouth-watering matchup. The death-defying defending champions, who have successfully navigated three consecutive knockout-round scares, march on to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. There, they will clash with a rampant Spain team on Sunday. The match sets up a historic bid to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil did so in 1962. You can stream the entire matchday overview right now. Check out the Rabona TV World Cup Recap on Spotify to stay completely updated on final scores, player ratings, and tactical previews ahead of the World Cup Final.
Dan Riccio and Blake Price break down Argentina's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over England and preview the historic World Cup final matchup on The 90th Minute. The final showdown of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially locked in, and it promises to be one of the most narrative-heavy, poetic finals in football history. On the newest edition of The 90th Minute, hosts Dan Riccio and Blake Price recap a breathless night in Atlanta that saw the defending champions escape yet another single-elimination grave, before turning their attention to a highly anticipated generational battle in New Jersey. Listen to the full tactical recap and final preview on Spotify to catch up on the entire tournament breakdown. The show leads with a comprehensive autopsy of Argentina’s incredible 2-1 comeback victory over England at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions took a deserved 1-0 lead in the 55th minute through Anthony Gordon, dominating the tempo and limiting Argentina’s central avenues. However, England’s decision to drop deep and defend the narrow lead proved completely fatal. The champions mounted a furious late charge. Lionel Messi, pulling the strings from deep, orchestrated the escape with two pinpoint assists—setting up the equalizer in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martínez buried the 90th-minute match-winner. Dan and Blake debate whether England threw away their golden opportunity and look at what the future holds for this English squad. The focus shifts entirely to Sunday’s monumental World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium. The hosts describe this match as a dream clash of generations, framing it as a battle between Barcelona’s illustrious past and bright present. The Master: Lionel Messi is hunting a historic back-to-back global crown to put the definitive exclamation point on his legendary career.The Apprentice: 19-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal aims to cap off his tournament with the ultimate prize, cementing his trajectory as the game’s next all-time great. The duo analyzes the crucial tactical matchups—specifically how Spain’s suffocating midfield press led by Rodri will attempt to limit Messi’s space. They also build a highly debated combined Argentina-Spain starting XI and predict who will ultimately lift the trophy on July 19. You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to stay completely updated on final scores, tactical breakdowns, and predictions ahead of the World Cup Final.
“I think there's not much to say. For now, everyone has to process what's just happened,” Harry Kane said after the defending champions, Argentina, rallied to beat England 2-1 and reach the World Cup final against Spain on Sunday.Trailing 1-0 going into the last five minutes of regulation time, Enzo Fernández and the substitute Lautaro Martínez scored for Argentina. Anthony Gordon had given England the lead, but Lionel Messi and co had other ideas. Argentina pushed for an equaliser and the pressure eventually led to Fernández scoring in the 85th minute. Martinez headed the winner two minutes into injury time.“Everyone's gutted. I'm gutted for all the boys, all the staff, everyone behind the scenes, because we know how much everyone puts into being a successful national team,” said Kane. “When you're so close, when you're 10-plus minutes away and it slips out of your hands like that, obviously, the lads are devastated.”England hearts broken after turnaround in AtlantaIn pictures: our pick of the best big-match images Continue reading...
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros deliver an unfiltered live reaction from Atlanta following Argentina's dramatic 2-1 World Cup semifinal victory over England. The hosts break down Thomas Tuchel's tactical failure to preserve a 1-0 lead, Enzo Fernández's world-class equalizer, and Lautaro Martinez's late 92nd-minute header that sent the Three Lions packing. Complete with viral tweets from football icons, a scathing look at England's 12% possession breakdown, and breaking injury news on William Saliba, the guys officially map out the angles for the ultimate Argentina vs. Spain final showdown.
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