Lionel Messi suggested that England’s resolve faltered in the crucial moments leading to their World Cup elimination, stating that the Three Lions “didn’t want it anymore” after Argentina secured a dramatic late victory. The captain’s comments came after Argentina’s 2-1 comeback win, which saw them advance to another World Cup final while sending England home.
Late Drama Seals Argentina’s Victory
The match remained deadlocked until the 85th minute when Enzo Fernandez netted a crucial equalizer for Argentina. The momentum then swung decisively in Argentina’s favor when Lautaro Martinez scored in the 92nd minute, extinguishing England’s hopes of forcing extra time and securing their place in the final match.
Following the final whistle, Messi, who captained his side to the hard-fought win, directed his praise towards the passionate Argentina supporters in the stadium. He articulated his belief that the late surge of emotion and the eventual victory stemmed from a perceived decline in England’s fighting spirit as the game progressed.
Messi’s Perspective on England’s Mentality
“We felt a lot of emotion, and when we were drawing, we needed the support of the fans, because we saw that we could win it in 90 minutes,” Messi explained. “Because we already had the goal, because we entered through the inside, the outside, because we created opportunities with crosses, through line passes, through the inside.”
He continued, “And we felt they didn’t want it anymore and we just kept coming, that’s why after the 1-1, the crowd helped us again once more, and as I said, we are happy because it was a close match. We always want to win, and also because it takes us to play another World Cup final.”
England’s Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
England’s tactical approach in the latter stages of the match drew significant criticism. Manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to introduce several defensive substitutions after Anthony Gordon’s opening goal in the 55th minute was particularly questioned. Players like Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, and Dan Burn were brought on for Gordon, Reece James, and Declan Rice, respectively, altering the team’s midfield structure and reportedly limiting their attacking potential.
Even after Argentina equalized, the substitutions made in injury time, bringing on Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford for defensive players John Stones and Djed Spence, were seen by many as too little, too late.
Pundits Weigh In on England’s Tactics
Former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas labeled the tactical choices as “cowardly,” while Chris Sutton described the situation as a “coaching catastrophe.” On his podcast, Gary Neville suggested that captain Harry Kane should have been the player substituted, making way for attackers like Rashford who could offer more on the counter-attack.
Ian Wright echoed Neville’s sentiments, noting the contrast between Tuchel’s earlier brave selection choices and his subsequent defensive substitutions. “For me, he’s made substitutions that are not attacking, they’re defending,” Wright commented. “For a manager that’s been as brave as he’s been with the selections from the start, with the players that he’s brought in, were the selections and the substitutions he made up to this point positive in that game?”
Despite the external criticism, Tuchel maintained post-match that he had “no regrets” regarding his second-half strategy, asserting that England had played their “best game” of the tournament.
Messi’s Confrontation with Bellingham
Beyond the match’s outcome, Lionel Messi also found himself in the spotlight for an exchange with England’s Jude Bellingham. The incident occurred amidst a post-foul altercation between players from both teams. Messi and Bellingham were observed in a heated discussion, with Messi later seen making a gesture as Bellingham walked away, appearing to express disagreement.
Controversy Over Falklands Banner
Adding to the post-match controversy, Messi was photographed celebrating with an Argentina squad banner that asserted the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands. FIFA has yet to issue a statement, but there are significant calls for disciplinary action against Argentina for displaying the politically charged banner during a high-profile match.
This incident echoes a similar event twelve years prior, where the team displayed the same banner during an international friendly, resulting in a fine of £20,000. However, the current context, with an estimated 950 million viewers worldwide, has led to increased pressure for stricter sanctions against the players involved, including Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez.
