Defending champions Argentina will be back in the World Cup final with a 2-1 win over England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
La Albiceleste will face Spain in Sunday’s final and will be aiming for a fourth title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1978 and 1986.
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Meanwhile, England have to face France in the third-place match on Saturday, and an investigation into the defeat has begun.
Al Jazeera analyzes some of the key deciding factors in Argentina’s victory over arch-rivals England in the semi-finals.
Tuchel’s questionable tactics
England defended their lead against Mexico in the last 16 and against Norway in the quarter-finals by returning to the back five and stopping games. They tried the same thing against Argentina after Anthony Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute gave them a 1-0 lead, but this time it didn’t work.
England faced relentless pressure from Argentina and were trapped early in their own half. The Three Lions had just 12% possession against Argentina between scoring and conceding the winner in stoppage time.
At one point, England had six defenders on the pitch, but each player was usually behind the ball, so there was no outlet to relieve the pressure.
England defended heroically at times, with Jordan Pickford making world-class saves from Nicolas Gonzalez, but they were riding their luck well before the equalizer, with Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post, and it looked inevitable that Argentina would eventually score, which they did in the 85th and 92nd minutes.
England manager Thomas Tuchel accepted responsibility for the defeat but said he had no regrets about his tactics.
“I can talk to a million coaches about this, but I have to make the decision on the pitch,” Tuchel told the BBC. “I analyzed the game and played the game a certain way, so that’s my responsibility. I have no regrets at this point. The team gave everything and we were very, very close.”
It was the third time since the 2018 World Cup that England were eliminated in the semi-finals or final of a major championship after taking the lead.
All three losses, including Wednesday’s game at Atlanta Stadium, followed the same template – a solid start to a 1-0 lead, a desperate rearguard action, and then a loss at the end.
Messi’s unchanging brilliance
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s captain and talisman, proved that even at the age of 39, he can lead his team from the underdog to glory by scoring his team’s two goals.
Messi played the entirety of Argentina’s four games in the finals of this tournament, and has learned how to conserve his energy for important moments. Even at this age, he still has the ability to hone his incisive creativity and goal-scoring acumen and unleash elusive, stray runs.
Messi had a quiet start to the game, but was exposed to close attention and rough tackles, particularly from England midfielder Elliot Anderson.
However, in the middle of the first half, he escaped the attention of three England players with a brilliant move and was knocked down by Anderson with a sickle. It was an exciting moment for Messi and his teammates.
In the second half, as England retreated, Messi found space and began to pull. He set up Enzo Fernandes’ equaliser, then crossed for Lautaro Martínez to head home the winner and seal a 2-1 victory.
Even at an age when most players have retired, Messi remains at the heart of the team, scoring eight goals this World Cup to put him at the top of the Golden Boot standings and providing four assists.
Wednesday’s assist brings his total to 12 at the World Cup, matching his record of 21 goals at soccer’s global festival.
Argentina’s dark arts disrupt England’s rhythm
Argentina tried to disrupt England’s rhythm by breaking up the game with fouls, provocations and protests to the referee.
The first half was quite a battle of attrition. It was the first time since records began in 1966 that no shots were taken in the first 30 minutes of a World Cup match.
England did a pretty good job of not taking the bait, often giving away good ones, but were rattled at times – frequently not releasing the ball fast enough and taking free kicks too late.
The confusion benefited Argentina, as England often struggled to maintain possession or create chances, often finding themselves embroiled in frustrating contests.
Argentina’s incredible confidence
Lionel Scaloni’s side have never looked completely convincing at this World Cup, but they remain unbeaten and always back themselves to find a way to win.
They fought their way through the finals, and the most memorable moment was when they came back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt in the last 16, but there were times when they struggled against Cape Verde and Switzerland.
“I said the other day that this group never ceases to amaze me,” coach Lionel Scaloni said. “And the truth is, we’re going to try to win, we’re going to drop everything.
“It’s unbelievable. We are truly unique. It’s not arrogant, it’s from the heart.”
Loud pro-Argentine crowd eases champion
Argentina’s fans are well known for their enthusiastic and raucous support for their national team, and that fanaticism has allowed Argentina’s beloved team to feel right at home in Atlanta.
The rambunctious pro-Argentine crowd was vocal throughout the game, serenading the team with songs, chants and shouts at the top of their lungs.
Gastón Reynoso, an Argentine who lives in Houston and traveled to Atlanta for the game, said the dedication of the fan base cannot be easily expressed.
“It’s really hard to explain the passion of the fans,” Reynoso told The Associated Press.
“When you’re Argentinian, football feels like a religion. Maybe this is everything to you. When you see an event like this, it’s a moment when people forget about religion, politics and everything else. Everyone is united. This is Argentina. There is nothing like this.”
