Kenya Sport

England vs Argentina: Player Ratings from the 2026 World Cup Semifinal Thriller

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, were just five minutes away from being knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after England’s early second-half goal by Anthony Gordon. Yet, England’s defense collapsed late, allowing the reigning champions to stage a memorable comeback and secure a 2-1 victory.

Messi orchestrated the turnaround with two assists, setting up Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez — the latter coming off the bench to seal the win. England's coach Thomas Tuchel made tactical decisions that backfired badly, especially when his team retreated too early and invited relentless pressure.

This report breaks down individual performances from both teams in this dramatic semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, refereed by Ismael Elfath (USA).

Final Score

Argentina 2, England 1

England Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

GK: Jordan PickfordRB: Reece JamesCBs: John Stones, Marc GuehiLB: Djed SpenceCDMs: Declan Rice, Elliot AndersonRW: Morgan RogersAM: Jude BellinghamLW: Anthony GordonST: Harry Kane

Argentina Starting XI (4-4-2)

GK: Emi MartinezRB: Nahuel MolinaCBs: Cristian Romero, Lisandro MartinezLB: Nicolas TagliaficoCMs: Giuliano Simeone, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo FernandezFWs: Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez

England Player Ratings (out of 10)

  • Jordan Pickford (6): Quiet first half but made key saves including a brilliant stop on Nico Gonzalez’s header. Could have done better on the winner.
  • Reece James (6): Strong early attacking presence but withdrew from forward duties after England’s lead. Subbed off late.
  • John Stones (6): Limited defensive workload; had a headed chance that missed. Fatigued towards the end.
  • Marc Guehi (7): Very composed in possession and solid defensively before England dropped back.
  • Djed Spence (9): Outstanding at left-back, dazzling with dribbles and key defensive tackles, especially against Simeone.
  • Declan Rice (5): Largely invisible in the first half, offered little impact overall.
  • Elliot Anderson (8): Battled hard, drew fouls, and covered plenty of ground. Led England’s touches and defensive actions.
  • Morgan Rogers (6): Struggled to influence early attacks but provided an excellent assist for the opener. Defensively diligent vs Messi.
  • Jude Bellingham (7): Active and combative, winning fouls and contesting well but faded as Argentina pressed late.
  • Anthony Gordon (7): Created early chances, scored England’s goal with a smart run and cross finish. Subbed off too early.
  • Harry Kane (5): Rarely found space or touches, largely neutralized by Argentina’s defense.

England Substitutes

  • Ezri Konsa (2): Replaced Gordon, but defensive change backfired as Argentina dominated and scored the winner.
  • Dan Burn (3): Minimal impact in a defensive role.
  • Nico O'Reilly (4): Came on late with no passes attempted.
  • Ivan Toney & Marcus Rashford (N/A): Too little time to influence the match.

England Coach: Thomas Tuchel (2)

Tuchel set his team up well initially, managing possession and defending resolutely. After England’s lead, he chose to retreat prematurely and replaced a key attacking player with a defender. This allowed Argentina to seize control and launch a comeback. The decision cost England dearly, surrendering a place in the final.

Argentina Player Ratings (out of 10)

  • Emi Martinez (6): Solid in dealing with crosses, limited saves needed.
  • Nahuel Molina (7): Contained England’s left side but was beaten for the goal.
  • Cristian Romero (9): Defensive powerhouse, crucial in breaking England’s attacks and helping Argentina dominate late.
  • Lisandro Martinez (6): Some shaky moments but improved after halftime. Booked and subbed out to avoid dismissal.
  • Nicolas Tagliafico (8): Physically imposing and defensively reliable against England’s wingers.
  • Giuliano Simeone (4): Disorganized and foul-prone early, substituted before the final phase.
  • Leandro Paredes (7): Physical presence breaking England’s play but replaced to add attacking firepower.
  • Alexis Mac Allister (6): Mixed performance, some key runs but inconsistent.
  • Enzo Fernandez (8): Scored a stunning equalizer and improved after a quiet start.
  • Lionel Messi (8): Slow start but instrumental with two assists, showing flashes of brilliance and composure.
  • Julian Alvarez (6): Hard-working with accurate passing but lacked goal threat.

Argentina Substitutes

  • Nico Gonzalez (8): Came on to help control the left flank, strong defensively and offensively.
  • Gonzalo Montiel (7): Added attacking impetus late in the match.
  • Nicolas Otamendi (8): Perfect passing and helped maintain possession after entering.
  • Rodrigo De Paul (8): Masterful midfield substitute who stabilized play and helped suffocate England’s rhythm.
  • Lautaro Martinez (8): Super-sub who scored the winning goal with a header from Messi’s cross in stoppage time.

Argentina Coach: Lionel Scaloni (7)

Scaloni’s side started poorly and were outplayed in midfield. His approach was physical and aggressive, but after falling behind, he freed his players to attack more. The substitutions and tactical adjustments turned the tide. Bringing Lautaro Martinez on late paid off hugely as he clinched the win.

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