Argentina break English hearts with late World Cup semi-final comeback

{"text":[[{"start":6.8,"text":"Argentina have reached back-to-back World Cup finals after Lionel Messi inspired a late comeback to extend England’s long wait for a major trophy."}],[{"start":16.65,"text":"England’s Anthony Gordon opened the scoring 10 minutes into the second half of a tense semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday evening when he got on the end of Morgan Rogers’ cross into the box. "}],[{"start":28.599999999999998,"text":"But Argentina then piled on the pressure, forcing several top-class saves from Jordan Pickford in the England goal and hitting the post twice."}],[{"start":37.9,"text":"England’s resistance was finally undone with just five minutes left when Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández unleashed a fierce shot from outside the box that sailed into the England net."}],[{"start":48.45,"text":"Substitute Lautaro Martínez then headed home a pinpoint cross from Messi, Argentina’s captain and talisman, two minutes into injury time to break English hearts."}],[{"start":58.550000000000004,"text":"“Once we went 1-0 up we seemed to just try and hold on, which at this level isn’t enough,” England captain Harry Kane told the BBC soon after the final whistle. “To fall short like we did today was just gutting.”"}],[{"start":73.2,"text":"Argentina, who won the World Cup on penalties in 2022, will face European champions Spain in Sunday’s showpiece final in New Jersey. Spain, who beat France in the other semi-final, have conceded just one goal in seven games at the tournament."}],[{"start":89.2,"text":"The victory for Argentina gives Messi, 39, the chance to end a trophy-laden career with another World Cup winners’ medal. He is also on track to win the tournament Golden Boot, having scored eight times and notched up four assists so far."}],[{"start":104.2,"text":"Despite the loss, England have firmly established themselves as one of the top teams at international tournaments. This World Cup marks the fourth time in the past five major tournaments that England have made the semi-final or final. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":119.2,"text":"Jeering over both national anthems before kick-off set the tone for the match, with the two teams combined committing 19 fouls in the first half, more than during the full 90 minutes when England played Norway in the quarter-finals. "}],[{"start":132.85,"text":"However, neither side looked like scoring, and the match reached half-time without a single shot on target. "}],[{"start":139.6,"text":"The game came alive after Gordon’s goal, but England looked increasingly stretched throughout the second half. England head coach Thomas Tuchel sought to shore up the defence through substitutions, but ultimately failed to keep Argentina at bay. "}],[{"start":153.65,"text":"The game ended with England having registered just five shots on goal, compared with 15 for Argentina."}],[{"start":160.45000000000002,"text":"“We got too passive after we scored. We conceded so many crosses and chances and shots. We were close but couldn’t keep the level up,” Tuchel told the BBC after the final whistle. “We changed nothing after the goal, but the match changed completely.”"}],[{"start":184.10000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784168029_4763.mp3"}