England suffered late heartbreak in their World Cup semi-final against Argentina as the defending champions produced a stunning late comeback to reach another final, where they will play Spain on Sunday.

The Three Lions, aiming for their first men’s World Cup final in 60 years, took the lead early in the second half when Anthony Gordon steered in a cross from Morgan Rogers.

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It seemed to be a crucial breakthrough, following a tense first half full of fouls and lacking shots on target; however, England dropped too deep and invited relentless pressure from Argentina.

Eventually, the defending champions broke through with Enzo Fernandez beating Jordan Pickford with a stunning long-range goal, before Lautaro Martinez grabbed the winner with a header at the back post.

Here are how the players rated from England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina

England

Jordan Pickford, 6: The England goalkeeper could do little about the second goal but perhaps got his positioning a little off for the first. Can’t be blamed for not holding out after a surprising change in tactics.

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Reece James, 6: Looked to get forward at every opportunity and troubled the Argentina defence at times. Helped England threaten and was solid enough in defence before coming off.

John Stones, 6: Another settled performance in the first half as neither side was able to really trouble the other. Was called into action more in the second half, making a pivotal clearing header to prevent a ball across goal. Faced pressure late on as England sat back.

Marc Guehi, 6: For the most part, remained untroubled in the first half and was unable to mitigate Argentina’s equaliser. Struggled as Argentina ramped up pressure and couldn’t hold out for the closing minutes.

Djed Spence, 8: The Spurs defender was standout for England, making good early dribbles, creating space for Gordon, and proving a real threat in attack. He also made a superb sliding challenge to prevent Simeone immediately after the opening goal.

Elliot Anderson, 7: Was active throughout, effectively marking Messi’s every move well in the first half before being booked. Struggled to maintain influence as Messi dropped deeper but had a solid game overall.

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Declan Rice, 6: showed plenty of energy in the opening half but wasn’t quite at his best, failing to dominate the midfield consistently.

Morgan Rogers, 6: Pushed forward early and linked well with James. Occasionally isolated but provided a brilliant cross for the opening goal, proving deserving of his starting spot.

Jude Bellingham, 7: Fended off early provocation from Argentina and won dangerous free-kicks but could not fully assert himself in a disjointed first half. Helped England progress in the second half but became a bit stranded after Gordon’s goal.

Anthony Gordon, 7: Has become one of England’s positive figures, providing a quick attacking option and working well with Spence. Finished smoothly after evading Molina to score the opening goal.

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Harry Kane, 6: Dropped deeper to assist in creation but left England light up front. Overall, the captain was largely uninfluential in attack, particularly after England took the lead.

Substitutes

Ezri Konsa, 6: Brought on to help England maintain the lead but faced difficulties as Argentina increased their pressure.

Nico O’Reilly, 6: Had little influence on the game as England struggled defensively late on. Still, a campaign to remember for the young City player.

Dan Burn, 6: Came on late to solidify the defence but was left without support during tense moments.

Ivan Toney, 6: Joined the match late but did not have sufficient time to make an impact.

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Marcus Rashford, 6: Worked hard late on but his efforts were limited like his teammates.

Manager

Thomas Tuchel, 4: Set up the team well initially, but his confusing substitutions and tactical changes contributed to England’s undoing. Even had they equalized, questions linger about how the team would perform in extra time.

Argentina

Emiliano Martinez, 6: Untroubled in the first half, making a routine save to keep it 1-0 in the second. Couldn’t do much about Gordon’s goal and remained mostly untested after Argentina scored twice.

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Nahuel Molina, 5: Competed well with Gordon and Spence but lacked awareness for the opening goal.

Cristian Romero, 6: Had a solid start as Argentina fended off early England pressure, but received a yellow card early in the second half. Faced limited challenges in the second half and wasn’t answerable for England’s goals.

Lisandro Martinez, 6: Played well early, forming part of a defense that held up in the first half. Received a late yellow card and was unlucky to see a header saved by Pickford before being substituted.

Nicolas Tagliafico, 6: Had a shaky start against Rogers but improved towards the end of the first half. Couldn’t be held responsible for the goal and maintained solid positioning throughout. Eventually replaced by Lautaro Martinez late on.

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Leandro Paredes, 6: Initially tried to engage the referee but grew into the game as Argentina seized more control of possession. Was confident in ball handling and perhaps undeserving of being substituted.

Giuliano Simeone, 5: Was industrious but struggled with inconsistent touch and play. Despite a strong challenge from Spence, he exited as Argentina adjusted their tactics.

Enzo Fernandez, 8: Initially focused on breaking up play, but had the best effort of the first half with a powerful shot just over the bar. Played a crucial role as Argentina began to dominate and scored a brilliant equaliser with a powerful long-range effort.

Alexis Mac Allister, 7: Made significant contributions and tracked back effectively, nullifying England’s threat. Was unlucky to have a diving header hit the post.

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Lionel Messi, 8: The Argentine star became increasingly influential after his side fell behind, dictating the play as Argentina sought an equaliser and later a winner. Provided a brilliant cross for the second goal, reaffirming his pivotal role in crucial matches.

Julian Alvarez, 6: Displayed energy across the wings and central areas, contributing to Argentina’s threat. Although unable to impose himself in attack, he remained lively and engaged throughout.

Substitutes

Nico Gonzalez, 6: Played quietly as Argentina pursued goals but supported possession and defensive efforts late in the game.

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Rodrigo De Paul, 7: Came off the bench to provide more stability in Argentina’s late-game pressure, showcasing his capabilities even after missing the starting role.

Nicolas Otamendi, 6: Fulfilled his defensive duties well upon replacing Martinez in a tense situation.

L. Martinez, 7: Came on late and managed to score the winning goal, heading in from close range to secure his team a spot in the final.

Gonzalo Montiel, 6: Performed as expected in defense but was helped by an unsettled England attack.

Manager

Lionel Scaloni, 8: Effectively countered England’s threats and made astute substitutions, notably bringing on Lautaro Martinez, who scored the winning goal. His strategy will be crucial in the upcoming final against Luis de la Fuente.