England suffer World Cup heartache as 60 years of hurt goes on as Argentina stars in tears

England have been dumped out of the World Cup with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals.

Lautaro Martinez grabbed a stoppage-time winner as the defending champions fought back from 1-0 down to win an ill-tempered encounter in dramatic fashion at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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The Three Lions looked set for their first World Cup final since 1966 when Anthony Gordon gave them the lead on 55 minutes.

But just as England seemed to be headed for a famous victory, Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez fired in a stunning equaliser from distance to equalise.

And after nine minutes of injury time were shown on the board, Argentina pounced to deliver a knockout blow.

Lautaro Martinez rose highest to meet Lionel Messi‘s cross at the back post and head home the winner for Argentina.

This sparked wild scenes among Argentina’s players, as they celebrated an incredible last-gasp turnaround, while England’s players despaired.

England desperately chased an equaliser in the dying moments, but to no avail, and the full-time whistle blew to signal more heartache.

Messi led the celebrations for Argentina, who are now into their second consecutive World Cup final, while the Three Lions’ players despaired on the ground.

Meanwhile, a number of Argentina players, including Fernandez, were seen in tears at full time.

The result means that England’s 60-year wait for major tournament glory will continue, with 1966 remaining their only triumph.

Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s final at the MetLife Stadium, as they bid to make it back-to-back World Cup titles.

As for England, they will be forced to contest a gutwrenching ‘Match for third place’ against France on Saturday, who were beaten by Spain Tuesday night’s semi-final.

Hostilities and heartache

With England and Argentina sharing a fierce rivalry built on decades of bad blood at the World Cup and intense history off the field, tonight’s semi-final well and truly kept this up.

Before a ball was even kicked, both sets of supporters drowned out the others’ national anthems by singing and booing over them.

And the hostilities continued immediately as the game began, with both teams wasting no time in flying into tackles.

Just minutes into the game, Chelsea‘s Fernandez appeared to elbow Elliot Anderson on the back of the head.

To the surprise of fans back home, the incident went unpunished, and the two teams continued to get caught up in physical tangles in an ill-tempered first half, sparking ire among the Three Lions’ coaching staff.

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The physical nature of the game meant the first half was one of no real chances, with the two sides heading in goalless after an incredible 19 fouls were committed.

But the game sprung to life in the second half, and England took the lead when Gordon tapped home from Morgan Rogers‘ cross to the back post.

This sparked pandemonium among the Three Lions’ players and fans in the stadium, as well as millions of fans back home.

However, Argentina refused to give up their 2022 crown without a fight, who piled on the pressure as they went in search of an equaliser, while England sat back and looked to defend their lead.

Djed Spence pulled out a stunning last-ditch tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone, before Jordan Pickford kept out Nico Gonzalez and Alexis MacAllister then hit the post.

But England’s resistance was finally broken on 85 minutes, as Fernandez fired in an unstoppable effort from distance.

And after Martinez dealt a knockout blow with his header in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, it was more misery for football fans up and down the country.

Kane rues England approach

After suffering fresh heartache in an England shirt, captain Harry Kane fronted up to the media as he spoke to the BBC at full-time.

Despite firing in six goals at the World Cup, the Bayern Munich talisman failed to make his mark against Argentina, and suggested the Three Lions’ decision to sit back after taking the lead was their undoing.

Kane said: “Gutted for the boys, gutted for everyone – the team, the staff, the fans.

“We played a good game the large majority of it. When we went 1-0 up we seemed to try and hold on, which at this level is not enough.

“So, just gutted because we’ve worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, blood, sweat, tears.”

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