For most teams, the manner of Argentina's comeback in their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England would be considered utterly extraordinary.
For Lionel Scaloni's side, however, the extraordinary has become ordinary on account of an absolute refusal to give in, however high the odds are stacked against them.
"Today was another display of character, desire, unity and strength," Lionel Messi said after goals in the 85th and 92nd minutes saw La Albiceleste come from behind to defeat the Three Lions.
Messi provided the assists for both those strikes, putting in another virtuoso performance in the closing stages as he first teed up Enzo Fernandez and then crossed for Lautaro Martinez to head home.
The manner of the turnaround shouldn't have come as a surprise though, with Argentina having needed to dig deep in each of their knockout games prior to the semi-final clash in Atlanta.
First, in the Round of 32, they were twice pegged back by Cabo Verde before emerging as 3-2 victors after extra time, and then they sailed even closer to the wind in the Round of 16 — recovering from 2-0 down to stun Egypt and claim a 3-2 win.
Extra time was needed again to seal a 3-1 triumph over Switzerland in the quarter-finals, before the late heroics against England that delivered the team to their second consecutive World Cup final.
There they will face their toughest challenge yet against the masters of control, Spain. But if anyone is able to conjure up enough chaos to disrupt Luis de la Fuente's well-oiled machine, it is surely an Argentina side that simply refuse to accept defeat.
Courtesy: FIFA
