ATLANTA – Forty years after the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century”, Argentina is still more than England on a soccer field. This time they were the right of Enzo Fernández, the head of Lautaro Martínez and, above all, the heart of a furious team that ate the rival.

Goals from Fernández in the 85th minute and Martínez in the 92nd minute turned the score around for a 2-1, finally free of refereeing controversies, sending the reigning soccer champions to the final in New York against Spain. The long-awaited Finalissima has become a reality and will be for the maximum trophy.

First half: pushing, demands and little danger

The first half of the game left a lot of fighting, too many complaints to the American referee Ismail Elfath and no clear scoring opportunities.

Just after 3 minutes the first moment of tension occurred. The Argentinians complained about an uncalled foul on Messi and began to push and shove in an attempt to put pressure on the referee, but also to show that for them the game was like a war.

Messi, for his part, barely touched the ball before the hydration break and his first interesting intervention came after 15 minutes in a combination with Alexis Mac Allister. Argentina did not take a single shot until the 38th minute when Enzo Fernández's distant shot went just over the goal.

England tried with quick transitions, but the albiceleste defense was diligent, and did not generate dangerous actions either.

Referee Elfath allowed many fouls, but cautioned Elliot Anderson for the English and Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine centre-back, for a tactical foul to cut off a counterattack.

Argentina's other central defender, Cristian Romero, was also painted yellow just after 50 minutes for another foul to interrupt a counterattack by Jude Bellingham.

Five minutes later the scoring opened in Atlanta. Morgan Rogers received the ball easily on the right wing after a defensive rebound and sent a great chipped pass into the area for Anthony Gordon to finish with great quality from the right after beating Nahuel Molina.

The English fans were celebrating one of their team's best moments in the World Cup, although the Argentinians' instant draw almost fell. Giuliano Simeone entered the area and was preparing to shoot when Djed Spence made a masterful sweep.

England, with the advantage, leaned back to try to play on the counterattack, one of its great virtues. Argentina grabbed the ball and stepped on the last quarter of the field. It was a clash between the foot ball ability of the South Americans and the discipline and defensive strength of the Europeans.

Nico González, who came on as a substitute after the goal, finished off a great pass from Messi in the 68th minute, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, a World Cup great, dove to his right to make an excellent save and prevent the goal.

At 76' England was saved again. Mac Allister headed a cross from Rodrigo De Paul, who had just come on as a substitute, completely alone in the area, and put the ball on the post before it was moved out of the danger zone. The Argentine fans, the vast majority in the stadium, couldn't believe it.

Great goal from Enzo Fernández for the tie

The award came for Argentina at 85' and was from a long-distance shot by Enzo Fernández, who had already been close on two attempts. The right hand had a lot of placement and effect to beat a great Pickford.

The Atlanta stadium exploded with Fernández's great goal, as time began to run out for the reigning world champions. The score also did justice to the match they were offering against a very defensive England that, unlike the game in Mexico in the round of 16, could not hold on this time.

Suffocated, the English could no longer string together two passes. A MacAllister shot went off the post. The defense could not take off the ball, won by Messi on the right wing. The star sent a perfect cross from the right and Lautaro Martínez, who had entered in the second half, rose between two defenders to score the goal of his life with a header at 90 2.

News in development.