Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez has admitted England’s defensive approach after taking the lead helped his side complete a dramatic comeback in their 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final victory.
According to ESPN on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the defending champions defeated England 2-1 in Atlanta to book their place in the World Cup final after recovering from Anthony Gordon’s second-half opener.
England looked set for a historic victory when Gordon put Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead in the 55th minute. However, Argentina responded with sustained pressure and overturned the deficit through Enzo Fernandez’s long-range equaliser before Martinez scored the winner in stoppage time.
Reflecting on the victory, Martinez praised his teammates for remaining composed during a difficult contest and said England’s decision to retreat after scoring allowed Argentina to take control.
“It’s very difficult to speak right now, but I’m going to try not to cry because I already cried a lot in there,” Martinez said. “It’s incredible what we’ve achieved. We’ve kept moving forward, and that’s the greatest satisfaction we can have. We pulled off a very difficult victory. The first half was very tough. They pressed us very well.”
Martinez said the momentum shifted after England took the lead, as Argentina were able to dominate possession once their opponents adopted a more defensive approach.
“In the second half, they scored, sat back, and we were able to control the game more calmly, keeping possession,” he said.
England struggled to threaten after taking the lead and failed to register another shot on target following Gordon’s goal. Argentina continued to apply pressure, eventually finding the breakthrough through Fernandez before Martinez sealed the comeback with a stoppage-time winner.
The defeat has intensified scrutiny of England’s game management, with critics questioning whether Tuchel’s side became overly defensive against an Argentina team renowned for its attacking quality.
Argentina will now face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, while England will meet France in the third-place play-off.
