Game Recap - Soccer Wiretap

Argentina scored twice in stoppage time to stun England 2-1 in Wednesday's semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, advancing to a World Cup final meeting with Spain on Sunday.

England had led since a second-half strike from Anthony Gordon and appeared headed to the final before Argentina's late surge. 

Enzo Fernandez drew Argentina level in the 85th minute with a long-range strike from 20 yards. Lionel Messi then set up Lautaro Martinez, who headed home the winner in the second minute of stoppage time off a cross from the far post.

Argentina held a commanding 1.59 to 0.53 edge in expected goals, a gap that reflected the pressure they applied in the closing stages.

"This is incredible, it's truly incredible," said Martinez. "I dreamed it, I swear. I told Alexis [Mac Allister] I was going to score a goal; I told Facu Medina that I was going to come on and win the match.

"We stretched the team and went all-in. We got the goals in the end, and after 3½ years, we're back in a World Cup final."

Messi extended his World Cup knockout-stage assist total to 10, six clear of any other player over the past six decades. He has produced a goal or assist in 11 consecutive World Cup matches since 2022.

"We're disappointed, we were so close, but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances," said England coach Thomas Tuchel. "We could not turn the ball possession around and then conceded so many crosses, chances and shots."

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford kept England ahead with saves on Nico Gonzalez and Mac Allister before Argentina's late breakthrough. The result marks England's continued wait for a second World Cup final since 1966.

Argentina will chase a fourth title and back-to-back championships against Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Spain are 58 percent favorites to win the match, according to Polymarket. England face France in Saturday's third-place match in Miami.

Spain defeated France 2-0 Tuesday in the World Cup semifinals in Dallas, reaching the final for the first time in 15 years, per ESPN. Spain held a 1.63 to 0.31 edge in expected goals.

Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 22nd-minute penalty after Lamine Yamal drew a foul from Lucas Digne in the box. The goal was Oyarzabal's fifth of the tournament and 30th in 60 international appearances for Spain. Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute, finishing a give-and-go with Dani Olmo. Yamal had a goal disallowed shortly after on a close offside ruling.

It marked the third consecutive summer that Spain eliminated France in a major tournament semifinal, following a 2-1 victory in the 2024 European Championship and a 5-4 Nations League win last year.

France, the top-ranked team in FIFA's world rankings, had been seeking to become just the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. Kylian Mbappe and Les Bleus will instead play in the third-place match Saturday in Miami Gardens.

Spain advance to the World Cup final Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they await the winner of Wednesday's Argentina-England semifinal in Atlanta.

Julian Alvarez scored in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martinez added a late third as Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Argentina held a 2.00 to 0.53 edge in expected goals.

Alexis Mac Allister headed home a Lionel Messi corner to give Argentina an early lead in the 10th minute.

Switzerland leveled through Dan Ndoye in the 67th minute, but the equalizer lasted only minutes before a controversial VAR intervention changed the match. Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Breel Embolo, but video review revealed Embolo had gone to ground before contact. Under the tournament's mistaken identity protocol, the card was transferred to Embolo, who had been booked earlier, and he was sent off. It was the second time that protocol had been applied at this World Cup.

Switzerland, playing their first World Cup quarterfinal since 1954 and still without injured breakout scorer Johan Manzambi, could not hold firm with 10 men through extra time.

Messi's nine-match World Cup scoring streak ended Saturday, though he created multiple chances and finished with eight tournament goals, level with France's Kylian Mbappe atop the Golden Boot standings.

Argentina extended their World Cup unbeaten run to 12 matches despite again requiring extra time in the knockout rounds, having also needed late comebacks against Cape Verde and Egypt.

With France, Spain, England and Argentina advancing, it marks the first time the top four teams in the FIFA world rankings have all reached the semifinals of a single World Cup.

Argentina face England on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including a third-minute extra-time winner, as England defeated Norway 2-1 Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinals in Miami Gardens. England held a 1.04 to 0.68 edge in expected goals.

Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway a 36th-minute lead, his shot deflecting off the right post and into the net. Bellingham equalized from close range before halftime, with the goal briefly complicated by a Norway goal kick appearing to strike an aerial camera cable before the ball reached England's Elliot Anderson and eventually Bellingham, who finished low to the far post. By rule, had officials noticed the cable contact, a drop ball would have determined possession.

Norway came close to taking a second-half lead when Torbjorn Heggem put a rebound past Jordan Pickford following a corner, only for VAR to disallow the effort for a Haaland foul in the box. Pickford had also denied Erling Haaland with a point-blank save in the first half.

Haaland, who entered Saturday with seven tournament goals, was held scoreless for the first time in this World Cup and substituted in the second half of extra time.

Bellingham's winner was his sixth goal of the tournament, drawing level with England teammate Harry Kane. Both trail Golden Boot leaders Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, who each have eight.

England advance to face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Mikel Merino scored an 88th-minute winner for the second time in three matches as Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 Friday in the World Cup quarterfinals in Los Angeles, per ESPN. Spain held a 1.96 to 0.34 edge in xG (expected goals).

Fabian Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute after Thibaut Courtois parried a Dani Olmo shot, with the ball deflecting off Timothy Castagne and into the net. Charles De Ketelaere leveled for Belgium 11 minutes later, powering a header from Castagne's cross past Unai Simon. The goal ended Spain's World Cup shutout streak at 650 minutes, dating to the 2022 group stage.

Belgium's afternoon unraveled in the final 20 minutes. Courtois was forced off in the 71st minute with an apparent thigh injury, visibly emotional as he departed. Replacement Senne Lammens could only parry Pau Cubarsi's long-range drive, and Merino reacted fastest to lift the loose ball into the net.

Belgium had also lost Youri Tielemans to injury before kickoff, with Hans Vanaken stepping in as a late replacement.

Merino reflected on his remarkable run of decisive contributions.

"It seems like a coincidence but, if you go in prepared, it can happen again," said Merino. "I'm thrilled. I doubt it will happen again, but we'll see.

"Two matches to win a World Cup is a dream come true. Hopefully we can achieve it."

Luis de la Fuente embraced the semifinal challenge ahead.

"It's an honor to coach a team so committed and eager to improve," said de la Fuente. "It's fair to think we can beat France. We're going to work hard for it. A great team is going to face another great team."

Spain meet France in the semifinals in Dallas. France are -144 favorites to advance with an implied probability of 59 percent, according to the latest World Cup odds.

Kylian Mbappe scored and assisted after missing a first-half penalty as France defeated Morocco 2-0 Thursday in the World Cup quarterfinals. France held a commanding 3.69 to 0.14 edge in xG (expected goals) and a 21-4 advantage in total shots.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute before teeing up Ousmane Dembele six minutes later. Dembele's finish was his fifth goal of the tournament, coming after Mbappe drew defenders wide to create the opening.

The 60th-minute strike was Mbappe's 20th career World Cup goal in 20 appearances, pulling him within one of Lionel Messi's all-time record of 21 goals across 31 matches.

Mbappe had drawn a 25th-minute penalty when Noussair Mazraoui chopped him down in the box, but after a lengthy video review delay, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly and turned the attempt aside.

Morocco's best first-half chance came just before the break when Achraf Hakimi's free kick from outside the box drifted past the right post. The Atlas Lions registered just one shot on target throughout the match.

The result repeated France's 2-0 semifinal victory over Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach that stage.

France remain on course to become just the third nation to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals. Les Bleus face Spain or Belgium in the semifinals Tuesday in Dallas.

Switzerland defeated Colombia on penalties Tuesday in Vancouver to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. Colombia held a 1.03 to 0.35 edge in expected goals across a goalless 120 minutes at BC Place.

Substitute Ruben Vargas converted the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Gregor Kobel denied Cucho Hernandez. Earlier misses from Colombia's Davinson Sanchez and Switzerland's Manuel Akanji had kept the shootout tight before Kobel's intervention proved decisive.

The result ended Switzerland's long history of shootout failure. The Swiss had won just one of their previous six penalty shootouts across all competitions and had never won one at a World Cup, having lost their only prior attempt against Ukraine in 2006.

Coach Murat Yakin was candid in his relief afterward.

"It took an incredible fight. Cleverness and patience, too. And then the penalty shootout at the end, we finally broke the curse," said Yakin. "Just unbelievable emotions. The feeling during the decisive penalty is fantastic, indescribable. A huge compliment to Kobel as well; he's playing a fantastic tournament."

Akanji was self-critical about his miss.

"I told Muri that was the last penalty I'd ever take. It was disastrous," said Akanji. "I'm incredibly proud of how the team reacted. We didn't play that well -- especially offensively, we were lacking a lot. But we were compact as a team."

Captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the scale of the next challenge.

"That's a great reward," said Xhaka. "Goal No. 1 has been achieved, but when you're in the quarterfinals, the hunger is even greater than before. Now comes the big challenge with one of the greatest players."

Switzerland face reigning champion Argentina on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Enzo Fernandez headed home in the second minute of stoppage time Tuesday, completing one of the great World Cup comebacks as Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta to reach the quarterfinals. Argentina held a 2.80 to 0.98 edge in xG (expected goals).

Argentina trailed 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining before Cristian Romero's header and Lionel Messi's 83rd-minute finish drew the reigning champions level. Fernandez then met Lautaro Martinez's cross to seal a victory that seemed impossible just minutes earlier.

Yasser Ibrahim gave Egypt a half-time lead, heading home Marwan Attia's cross ahead of Lisandro Martinez. Messi's penalty was saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir before Mostafa Zico had a 58th-minute goal disallowed by VAR, then swept home Haissem Hassan's cutback nine minutes later to double Egypt's advantage.

Shobeir had earlier denied Alexis Mac Allister and produced a standout save to turn away Julian Alvarez before Egypt's two-goal cushion ultimately collapsed in the final 11 minutes.

Messi's equalizer was his eighth goal of the tournament and 21st in World Cup competition, extending his all-time record. The Argentina captain had also struck the post with a long-range free kick before halftime.

Argentina advance to the quarterfinals still in pursuit of a successful title defense, having also required extra time to eliminate Cape Verde in the previous round.

Charles De Ketelaere scored two goals as Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 Monday in the World Cup round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Belgium held a dominant 2.15 to 0.67 edge in expected goals.

De Ketelaere's opener came nine minutes in, finishing a Nicolas Raskin knockdown across the face of goal. Malik Tillman briefly drew the United States level with a deflected free kick, becoming just the second player in 60 years to score two free-kick goals at a single World Cup. De Ketelaere headed home a Leandro Trossard cross 52 seconds later to restore Belgium's lead.

A costly error from U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to convert from 30 yards. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth in stoppage time off another turnover.

Christian Pulisic surrendered possession 11 times in the first half, and Sergino Dest was substituted at halftime after struggling to contain Trossard. Folarin Balogun, reinstated after his red card suspension was reduced with reported assistance from the White House, generated little attacking threat throughout.

The defeat marked the fourth time in five World Cups that the United States has exited at the round of 16 stage. Belgium eliminated the Americans at the same juncture in 2014.

Midfielder Alex Freeman shrugged off questions about the circumstances surrounding Balogun's reinstatement.

"I have no clue how it happened," said Freeman. "We're just happy it happened."

Spain are 75 percent favorites to advance to the semifinals over Belgium, according to the latest World Cup odds.

Mikel Merino scored a late winner as Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 Monday in Arlington, Texas, reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years. Spain held a 1.77 to 0.60 edge in expected goals.

Merino had just been fouled when play continued. He collected a Ferran Torres through ball, drove into the penalty area and finished past goalkeeper Diogo Costa. Portugal twice threatened to level in the closing stages, but goalkeeper Unai Simon preserved the clean sheet.

The result extended Spain's World Cup shutout streak to six straight matches, a tournament record, with Simon's scoreless run reaching 609 minutes. Spain surpassed Italy and Switzerland for consecutive World Cup matches without conceding. Simon made two first-half saves against Portugal, both on Cristiano Ronaldo attempts.

Ronaldo confirmed after the final whistle that this was his last World Cup. The all-time international scoring leader was visibly emotional following the defeat.

Luis de la Fuente credited his substitute afterward.

"Mikel Merino never lets you down. He's a sure thing. He won us the Euros," said de la Fuente. "He's a huge player -- one of the best in the world in his position. We're lucky to have players on the bench who would be starters in any other national team.

"All I ask is for people to be fair in their recognition. Mikel Merino is a player with exceptional performance. He's a player who is always where he needs to be."

Merino reflected on a difficult personal year.

"You remember everything, all the good, all the bad, what you've got back at home," said Merino. "There've been very difficult moments for me this year, but good ones as well. With the injury, all this time that I haven't been able to see my little one grow up.

"I use it to get the best of myself."

Spain are 75 percent favorites to advance to the semifinals over Belgium, according to the latest World Cup odds.