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Argentina once more found itself on the edge during its World Cup semifinal clash with England, yet history continued to smile on the reigning world champions as they secured their place in the showpiece event.
Having needed extra time to get past Cabo Verde and Switzerland, and recovering from two goals down against Egypt in the round of 16, La Albiceleste took yet another dramatic path to victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday.
Going behind to Anthony Gordon's close-range strike, Argentina needed late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez to pull off a stunning comeback and secure a spot against Spain in Sunday's final.
Though the South American giants left it to the last moment against the Three Lions, they still managed to preserve their flawless record in World Cup semifinal fixtures.
Argentina Boasts Perfect Record in World Cup Semifinals
Reigning champions for a reason. pic.twitter.com/CH3JNsQRZI
Wednesday marked Argentina's sixth World Cup semifinal since the tournament's birth nearly a century ago, and they claimed their sixth straight victory by defeating England in Atlanta. La Albiceleste's unblemished record has already delivered three World Cup titles, with a fourth potentially within reach.
Argentina reached the final of the inaugural World Cup in 1930, demolishing the United States 6–1 in the last four before ultimately falling to host nation and neighbor Uruguay, missing out on lifting the trophy for the very first time.
Despite claiming the 1978 World Cup—their maiden title—there was no semifinal stage at that tournament. Instead, the top team from each second-round group contested the final, with Argentina ultimately beating the Netherlands in extra time.
However, on the road to their title eight years later, Argentina secured their second semifinal win, defeating Belgium 2–0. At the following tournament in 1990, they again reached the last four, eliminating Italy on penalties before falling to Germany in the final.
Argentina defeated the Netherlands on the way to the 2014 final, which they once again lost to Germany, before routing Croatia 3–0 in the 2022 semifinal as Lionel Messi went on to claim his long-awaited crown.
Year | Semifinal Result |
|---|---|
1930 | Argentina 6–1 United States |
1986 | Argentina 2–0 Belgium |
1990 | Argentina 1–1 (4–3p) Italy |
2014 | Netherlands 0–0 (2–4p) Argentina |
2022 | Argentina 3–0 Croatia |
2026 | England 1–2 Argentina |
Argentina Seeking Historic Victory Over Spain
Several nations have appeared in back-to-back World Cup finals, Argentina among them in 1986 and 1990, but only two sides have ever won consecutive titles.
Italy were the first to accomplish the feat, doing so in 1934 and 1938, with Brazil following suit by winning in 1958 and again in 1962. No nation has managed to replicate the Seleção's achievement in the 64 years since. Perhaps history is waiting for Argentina at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
La Albiceleste's World Cup final record is far less pristine than their semifinal history, having won three and lost three in previous appearances.
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Toppling Spain, who have been the most composed and well-organized side this summer, will be an enormous task, yet there is a sense of inevitability surrounding this Argentina team, driven by an unyielding spirit and the relentless brilliance of Messi.
Spain vs. Argentina has historically been a remarkably balanced rivalry, with six wins each and two draws. Their most recent meeting ended 6–1 in Spain's favor during a 2018 friendly, though Argentina claimed victory in the only competitive encounter between the two sides, at the 1966 World Cup.