In a heart-wrenching World Cup semi-final, England faced a dramatic exit at the hands of Argentina, who pulled off a stunning comeback to win 2-1 on December 13, 2022. England seemed poised for their first final since 1966, taking the lead through Anthony Gordon shortly after the break, but Argentina's champion spirit shone through in the closing moments.

The match commenced as a fierce physical battle, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. The first half ended with a negligible expected goals statistic: England at 0.05 and Argentina at 0.03. However, the tide turned when Gordon scored, igniting hopes for England.

Despite the lead, Argentina refused to wilt. In a tactical shift by head coach Thomas Tuchel, England switched to a back five, inviting pressure from the Argentine attack. The equalizer came in the 86th minute when Enzo Fernández scored with a powerful drive following a well-executed short corner orchestrated by Lionel Messi.

Just moments later, Lautaro Martínez headed home from a Messi cross, sealing England's fate and sending Argentina to the final against Spain. Tuchel's side struggled creatively, failing to threaten Emi Martínez's goal sufficiently, which ultimately led to their downfall.

The match echoed the historical tensions between the two nations, with Argentina's fans chanting about Las Malvinas. As the night ended, England faced the beginning of a familiar inquest, leaving them heartbroken and reflecting on another missed opportunity.