ATLANTA – Five minutes from erasing decades of anguish, England turned passive. The painful result: two more assists for Lionel Messi, one more World Cup final for Argentina.
“We were so close,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said following the 2-1 defeat Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium during a dour postgame session rolling ?on as Argentina celebrated with song, dance and degrees of disbelief alongside their fans seated behind the winner’s goal. “But couldn’t keep the level after we scored. We deserved to be up 1-0... we got passive.”
Defense dominated in the first World Cup semifinal without a shot on goal in the first half since 1966 as sparring — and a little extra — led to 19 total fouls.
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